Administration creates $30M pothole repair fund for local roads

In the aftermath of a severe winter, Gov. Charlie Baker has set up a new fund dedicating $30 million to help cities and towns repair potholes and other winter damage to local roadways.
 
The Winter Recovery Assistance Program will use money from the existing fiscal 2015 transportation bond authorization, according to the Baker administration. While the pothole account is separate from the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program, it will be distributed to cities and towns based on the Chapter 90 formula.
 
Cities and towns can seek reimbursement from the Department of Transportation for patching potholes, paving cracks, resurfacing road defects, and replacing damaged signs, guardrails, storm drains and line striping.
 
Cities and towns must complete the work by June 30 and submit reimbursement requests to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation by July 31 of this year. MassDOT will reimburse cities and towns as invoices are received.
 
“Since day one, we promised to partner with our cities and towns to provide them with the support needed to keep local infrastructure in reliable shape,” Baker said in a statement. “After an unprecedented winter of heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures, this additional support will allow municipalities to patch up potholes and address local repairs as needed.”
 
Municipal officials are now assessing the damage to roadways caused by the severe winter. In a visit to Newburyport and Amesbury yesterday, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito told local officials that the administration was working on a plan to help them with pothole repairs.
 
“This winter’s record-setting snowfall has left our cities and towns with a major maintenance deficit that needs to be addressed immediately,” Polito said in a statement today. “This program provides municipalities with additional resources to accelerate those repairs and make our roadways safer for everyone.”
 
Gov. Baker has also filed legislation seeking $200 million for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program for the 2015 construction season, in addition to the $100 million in already authorized spending he released in January. The Transportation Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill (H. 3187) Friday, with a vote planned for the same day as lawmakers work to finalize the funding for the April 1 statutory deadline.
 
The Chapter 90 formula determines the apportionment of funding for municipal roads and bridges based on a weighted average of a city or town’s population, employment, and total mileage of roads.
 
Questions about the Winter Recovery Assistance Program may be directed to Maria Conti at MassDOT at (857)-368-9144 or maria.conti@state.ma.us, or Paul Jay at (857) 368-9150 or paul.jay@state.ma.us.
 
• Download Winter Recovery Assistance Program apportionment list (289K PDF)
• Download Winter Recovery Assistance Program rules and regulations (289K PDF)