Senate OK’s bond bill with $300M for Chapter 90

The Senate today passed a transportation bond bill that includes $300 million for the Chapter 90 program in fiscal 2027 to support local transportation infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth.

The $300 million allocation matches last year’s funding level, which represented a 50% increase over previous years — and would benefit all 351 Massachusetts municipalities as they head into peak construction season. Of the total, $200 million would be allocated under the traditional formula, and $100 million would be distributed based on road mileage in a bid to boost regional equity.

The $1.4 billion transportation bond bill H.5375 also includes the following infrastructure investments:
• $500 million for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Bridge and Pavement Lifecycle Asset Management Programs
• $200 million for transportation improvements that support expanded housing development
• $200 million for a new Parkway Resilience Improvement and Safety Modernization (PRISM) investment program
• $200 million for the MBTA’s Rail Reliability Program

The Senate bill mirrors the transportation bond bill passed by the House on April 15. Both branches are now expected to enact a final bill in the coming days.

The MMA has long advocated for timely, adequate Chapter 90 authorizations to help cities and towns budget more effectively and efficiently for critical local road and bridge maintenance.

“We appreciate our partners in the Legislature for moving this bill forward swiftly to ensure local governments have the financial predictability they need,” said MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine. “We look forward to the bill making its way to the governor’s desk for her signature.”