State transportation bond law includes a 50% increase to base funding for local roads and bridges
GARDNER, MA – Mayor Dominick Pangallo of Salem joined Gov. Maura Healey and other Massachusetts Mayors today for a ceremonial signing of a transportation bond law that provides a historic increase to local road and sidewalk maintenance funding.
“This law will make a significant difference in Salem, bringing our total state aid award for road and sidewalk work to $1.4 million this year,” said Mayor Pangallo, “This investment represents a critical step forward in ensuring that Salem’s roads, sidewalks, and bridges remain safe, reliable, and accessible for all. It supports our continued efforts to advance projects that prioritize safety and accessibility. Because this is a multi-year authorization, we also can plan resources more effectively and build a stronger foundation for a more connected, resilient Salem. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration and our legislative partners for making these funds available for this critical work.”
The City of Salem has supplemented this state funding with local funding through its own capital budget. This fiscal year, the City has directed an additional $1.5 million in local funds to this work, bringing the total amount being directed to fix Salem’s roads to $2.9 million, a 23% increase over the previous year’s allocation. In addition, the City has allocated an additional $750,000 specifically for sidewalk repair work through the City’s Safe Sidewalks Program.
The transportation bond law, enacted last month, includes a 50% increase to base funding for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge maintenance program, along with a $200 million authorization to support a culvert and small bridge program, $500 million for MassDOT bridge and pavement asset management, and $185 million for congestion and safety initiatives. The funding provided in this new law joins the $103.5 million in “Fair Share” funding for local infrastructure included in the recently enacted supplemental budget allocating surtax revenues.
