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Health & Fitness

Legislature Passes $13 Billion Transportation Bond Bill

BOSTON-- The Legislature voted to pass a $13 billion transportation finance bill that will help solve the immediate challenge of the structural budget gap in the state’s transportation system. This conferenced bond bill (H.4046) will authorize $13 billion in capital spending over the next five years to fund improvements to the state’s transportation system and includes a one-year $300 million authorization for the Chapter 90 program to fund local projects such as rebuilding and repairing roads and bridges.

“I was happy to join my colleagues in the Legislature to pass the Transportation Bond Bill, and delighted that it will have a direct impact on transportation in the Middlesex District,” stated Representative Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg). “It is excellent to see a bill that addresses transportation issues across the Commonwealth, as it allocates funds for both public transportation expansion and local communities’ road and bridge projects. Each of these improvement projects will have a long-lasting impact on the state’s entire transportation infrastructure system.”

“I am pleased that the Legislature worked together to craft a transportation finance bill to create a more efficient transportation system that addresses the pressing infrastructure needs of our Commonwealth ,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). “It was encouraging to see revenue increases in the bill that will fund a number of important transportation initiatives throughout the Middlesex and Worcester District.”

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A number of major transportation projects in Acton that received authorization to fund certain projects: 

· $500,000 to study the cost and feasibility of using current commuter rail infrastructure for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Fitchburg, South Acton line continuing to run along the tracks into Albany, New York;

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 · $1,000,000 for the design and construction of the Bruce Freeman rail trail bridge over state highway route 2 in the towns of Acton and Concord;

·  $3,000,000 for the progression of the Kelly's Corner at state highway routes 111 and 27 design phase from 25 per cent to 100 per cent in order to begin construction work on the intersection;

·   $300,000 shall be expended for the study, design, planning and construction of intersection improvements at the intersection of state highway route 27 and Concord street in the town of Maynard;

The bill requires municipalities to be notified of their Chapter 90 appropriation before March 1st of each year. To support the Complete Streets Program, the bill authorizes $50 million in spending and creates a grant program to provide funding to municipalities that promote all modes of transportation, including walking, cycling, public transportation, automobiles and freight.

The bill was passed by the House and Senate, passed through Conference Committee and now goes to the Governor to be signed into law. 

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