Representative Steven S. Howitt announces $2,323,886 combined in Chapter 90 funding for Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Swansea

Boston – Norton will receive $546,160, Rehoboth will receive $623,996, Seekonk will receive $587,425, and Swansea will receive $566,305 in Chapter 90 road and bridge funding in Fiscal Year 2025, as part of a $375 million transportation infrastructure bond bill supported by State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk).

House Bill 4529, An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, was enacted by the House of Representatives on April 24, after having previously been engrossed by the House on April 3 and by the Senate on April 11. The bill is expected to be enacted by the Senate and sent to Governor Maura Healey’s desk by the close of business on April 26.

Representative Howitt noted that more than half of the bond bill funding – $200 million – is devoted to the Chapter 90 program, which was created by the Legislature in 1973 to assist cities and towns with the maintenance of their local roads and bridges. The program works on a reimbursable basis, with state funding allocated to each community using a formula that considers the weighted average of its local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%), and employment (20.83%).

House Bill 4529 also sets aside $25 million for the rural road program, which was created in 2023 to assist rural communities with the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways. Funds are distributed under this program based on a weighted formula that considers a municipality’s local road mileage (20%), population (20%), and its status as a rural community (60%), which is defined as a community with a population of less than 10,000 and a population density that is under 500 people per square mile.

Representative Howitt noted that an additional $150 million is included in the bond bill to fund six transportation-related grant programs at $25 million apiece. The programs, which are made available to cities and towns, include the following:

• Municipal Pavement Program, which focuses on the improvement of municipally owned state numbered routes;

• Municipal Small Bridge Program, which provides funding to municipalities for the replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation of non-federally aided bridges and approaches;

• Complete Streets Program, which supports the implementation of safe and accessible transit options for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of all ages and abilities;

• Municipal Bus Enhancement Program, which can be used for bus shelters, bus lanes, and signal prioritization to enhance mass transit by bus;

• Mass Transit Access Grant Program, which can be used for enhancements that increase access to mass transit and commuter rail stations; and

• Municipal/RTA EV Grant Program, which provides grants to municipalities and regional transit authorities for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging equipment.