Woburn to receive $1.25M for local bridge and road projects

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BOSTON – Woburn will receive $1,251,922 in direct state funding to help maintain local roads and bridges under a proposed $350 million transportation infrastructure bond bill recently approved by Representative Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn) and his colleagues in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 4638, An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, was engrossed by the House on a unanimous roll call vote on March 30.

The bill provides for $200 million in state borrowing for the Chapter 90 program for Fiscal Year 2023, while also authorizing an additional $150 million in funding for five municipal grant programs to assist cities and towns with their local transportation needs.

Established in 1973, the Chapter 90 program allo- cates funding annually to all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns, using a formula that takes into account the weighted average of a community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%) and employment (20.83%).

The program provides funding on a reimbursable basis, with cities and towns paying up-front for eligible expenses before receiving state compensation

“This appropriation will provide Woburn with the re- sources it needs to repave local roadways and upgrade infrastructure,” said Representative Haggerty. “I was pleased to vote in favor of this aid to assist our commu- nities in keeping our roads safe and complete local paving projects.”

In addition to the $200 million allocated for the Chap- ter 90 program, House Bill 4638 also provides for:

  • a $40 million increase for the construction, recon- struction, resurfacing, repair and improvement of pave- ment and surface conditions on non-federally aided roadways;
  • a $30 million increase in the municipal small bridge program, which supports the design, engineering, con- struction, preservation, reconstruction and repair of, or improvements to, non-federally aided bridges;
  • a $25 million increase for the Complete Streets Pro- gram, which provides technical assistance and construc- tion funding to eligible municipalities seeking to provide safe and accessible travel mode options for people of all ages and abilities;
  • a $25 million increase for grants to municipalities for the prioritization and enhancement of mass transit by bus; and
  • a $25 million increase for grants to municipal- ities to expand access to mass transit and commuter rail stations.

House Bill 4638 now heads to the Senate for its con- sideration.