Chapter 90 funding included in transportation infrastructure bond bill
Reading is scheduled to receive $898,350.30 in state funding assistance for local road and bridge maintenance as part of a multi-billion dollar transportation infrastructure bond bill recently approved by the House of Representatives with the support of House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn).
House Bill 5375, An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges, was given preliminary approval by the House on April 15, passing on a unanimous vote of 155-0. The bill allocates a total of $300 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program, which was established by the Legislature in 1973 to help cities and towns maintain their local roads, bridges and sidewalks.
Representatives Jones and Haggerty noted that the House bill allocates $200 million in Chapter 90 funding for Fiscal Year 2027 using the program’s traditional weighted formula that accounts for a community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%), and employment levels (20.83%). An additional $100 million is being distributed based strictly on a community’s local road mileage to help ensure that rural communities with smaller populations receive their fair share of state funding.
Under the House proposal, Reading is scheduled to receive $592,135.72 based on the traditional three-prong formula, plus an additional $306,214.58 based on road mileage alone. This money will be provided to the town on a reimbursable basis, but the bill still requires Senate approval and the governor’s signature before the funding can be finalized.
“Cities and towns across the state rely on their annual Chapter 90 appropriation for maintaining a robust transportation infrastructure,” said Representative Jones. “This funding will enable Reading officials to better plan and prioritize local road and bridge projects and carry out needed repairs.”
“This funding, which is a primary source for paving our local roads, helps Reading maintain safer streets, better sidewalks and a transportation system that works for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike,” said Representative Haggerty. “With these dollars, the town can address important infrastructure needs and priorities across our streets and walkways. I’m proud to have supported this investment, which will improve the day-to-day experience of getting around our community.”
House Bill 5375 will now move to the Senate for its consideration.
