Transportation Bond Bill Receives Hearing in Senate Committee

BOSTON – The Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, chaired by Senator Brian A. Joyce, held a hearing on the $12.7 billion Transportation Bond Bill that will authorize all potential spending by the Governor’s administration on transportation and infrastructure projects over the next five years.

“While this bond bill is important for shaping transportation policy, updating infrastructure, and spurring job growth in our communities, we need to be conscious of how much debt the state can reasonably afford,” said Joyce. “The Commonwealth is already carrying the highest debt per capita in the nation and the responsible management of that debt will contribute equally to investment and job growth in the state.”

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, Undersecretary of Administration and Finance Scott Jordan, and representatives from the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and others provided testimony on the bill. Bond bills provide spending authorizations for the executive branch of government and outline what projects can receive state funding. The current bill contains spending authorizations for many large transportation and infrastructure projects including South Coast Rail, Chapter 90 road and bridge funding for municipalities, the Green Line extension, MDOT asset management reforms, and more.