Governor’s $8 billion transportation plan and Chapter 90 bill will improve roads, bridges, culverts and regional transit across Western Mass, small and rural communities

Conway - On February 27, 2025, Governor Maura Healey and Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt continued the administration's Transforming Transportation Road Show in Conway to highlight how the Governor’s proposed $8 billion transportation plan and Chapter 90 bill will improve roads, bridges, culverts and regional transit in Western Massachusetts and for small and rural communities.

“Every dollar we invest in our transportation infrastructure is an investment in improving the quality of life for all our residents, including Western Mass. Our transportation bills make sure that no community is left behind and propose significant funding to improve roads, pavement, bridges, culverts and regional transit,” said Governor Healey. “Under our plan, communities like Conway and others in Franklin County will see the largest percentage funding increases in the state. We’re going to make sure that the distribution of this funding is equitable and takes into account the unique challenges that our small and rural communities face.”

"As a former Mayor, I know how much our municipalities need these dollars to fill potholes, fix bridges and culverts, make sure the buses run on time, and clear ice and snow from our roads. When we’re get this work done, we make life easier for our residents and our businesses alike,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These resources will directly help all our constituents – including in Western Mass and our rural and small communities.”

“Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll have emphasized that a thriving economy requires a transportation system that serves everyone, and their proposed budget reflects this commitment,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget builds on last year’s historic investments in transportation infrastructure and promotes the goals of creating a reliable, accessible, and resilient transportation system for all. We are excited to work alongside officials in Conway and all municipalities as we collaborate to invest in critical infrastructure, expand public transit, and increase travel options.”

“The Healey-Driscoll administration’s focus on small and rural towns has increased both funding and administrative help for small towns like Conway. The addition of the Rural Affairs Office, led by Anne Gobi, is incredibly important in having our issues both heard and addressed,” said Conway Town Administrator Veronique Blanchard. “Adjustments to programs such as Chapter 90, which take into account the struggle towns with small populations but large numbers of road miles face in trying to maintain the structure, integrity and safety of our roads, are essential for small and rural towns.”

The Governor’s transportation plan proposes an $8 billion investment over the next 10 years to improve the state’s roads, bridges and public transportation. It would allocate $2.5 billion for road and bridge repairs across the state through MassDOT, including $1.5 billion to modernize state-owned bridges and pavements across the state and $200 million to upgrade aging culvert infrastructure and improve the resiliency of small bridges. Additionally, the bill would create a Winter Resilience Assistance Program, making $25 million available to help municipalities cover the cost of winter operations, distributed based on each community’s share of locally-owned road mileage. The proposal also includes $110 million for regional transit authorities, including Franklin Regional Transit Authority, to support fare-free service, transit improvements and better interconnectivity.

Governor Healey also recently proposed legislation to reform the Chapter 90 roadways program to substantially increase funding for municipal roads and bridges. Her bill proposes $1.5 billion over five years to increase Chapter 90 funding to $300 million annually, a 50 percent increase over the traditional $200 million. The proposal also introduces a revised distribution formula, allocating the additional $100 million based solely on road mileage to better support smaller and rural communities. The multi-year Chapter 90 authorization will allow municipalities to plan long-term road and bridge projects more effectively, providing stability and predictability for local infrastructure investments.

Earlier this month, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll kicked off the Transforming Transportation Road Show at the Brockton Area Transportation’s Intermodal Transportation Centre to promote the ways in which the plan will support the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities. They also visited the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 in Medway to highlight the 140,000 jobs these investments will create in Massachusetts.