Highway Funding

Post date: Jun 22, 2016 4:22:41 PM

STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS - AFTERNOON EDITION - TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

HIGHWAY FUNDING, SMALL BRIDGES BILL ON HOUSE AGENDA

The Massachusetts House appears poised to advance legislation authorizing $750 million in spending on highways and $50 million on a new program to make repairs to small bridges. In advance of Wednesday'sformal session, members of the House Ways and Means Committee were asked Monday to vote on the transportation funding bill (H 4057) by 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The bridge program, which would cover spans running 20 feet or less, was initially proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker. As drafted, the committee's small bridges program calls for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to develop a plan for project selection that takes into account need-based criteria and geographic distribution. The bill also bans spending under the small bridges program on bridges owned by or under the control of the MassDOT or the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The $750 million request for the federal aid highway program was also filed by Baker in February when he explained that the state would only be responsible for $135 million in spending from the total authorization. The bill also includes language governing a "complete streets" municipal grant program that provides "accommodations for users of multiple modes of transportation," including walking, cycling, public transportation, automobiles and freight. - Michael P. Norton/SHNS

Gail

Gailanne M. Cariddi

State Representative First Berkshire District

Vice-Chair Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Serving the communities of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida

Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, North Adams, and Williamstown