GARDNER — Melrose Mayor Jen Grigoraitis stood alongside Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and mayors from across the Commonwealth on September 17 for a ceremonial signing of a transportation bond law that provides an historic increase to local road maintenance funding.
“Chapter 90 funds give towns and cities the chance to improve the safety, function and beauty of our local neighborhoods and local transportation infrastructure,” said Melrose Mayor Jen Grigoraitis. “Especially in a season of municipal budget challenges, state roadway funding ensures that we can keep up our roads and make them safe for all users.”
Under this bill, Melrose receives a total of $761,294.98 in Chapter 90 funding. Melrose has been using Chapter 90 funding to support the City’s annual roads program. This year, Chapter 90 funds are slated for a variety of projects throughout Melrose, including paving, sidewalks, and accessibility improvements to Sewall Woods Road, Maple Road, Porter Street, and other high needs areas.
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 (Melrose receives $199,808.78 as part of that allotment) for local infrastructure, including bus stops and shelters, included in the recently enacted supplemental budget allocating surtax revenues.