State Rep. David Muradian (R-Grafton) recently lent his support to a $350 million bond bill to help maintain municipal roads and bridges under the state’s Chapter 90 program. The bill provides additional funding for several transportation-related municipal grant programs.

House Bill 4638, An Ac financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, will provide nearly $1.3 million to the 9th Worcester District to assist with the upkeep of its local transportation infrastructure under the state’s Chapter 90 program, which is being funded at $200 million for FY 2023. The bill was engrossed on a unanimous vote of 156-0 in the House of Representatives on March 30, but still requires Senate approval and Gov. Baker’s signature.

Specifically, the 9th Worcester District will receive the following:

• Grafton, $500,498

• Northbridge, $465,194

• Upton, $314,650

Established in 1973, the Chapter 90 program allocates funding annually to all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns, using a formula that takes into account the weighted average of a community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%) and employment (20.83%). The program provides funding on a reimbursable basis, with cities and towns paying upfront for eligible expenses before receiving state compensation.

Rep. Muradian said the House bill also authorizes $150 million in additional spending for five state grant programs that cities and towns can access for assistance in funding local transportation-related initiatives, as follows:

• A $40 million increase for the construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, repair and improvement of pavement and surface conditions on non-federally-aided roadways;

• A $30 million increase in the municipal small bridge program, which supports the design, engineering, construction, preservation, reconstruction and repair of, or improvements to, non-federally-aided bridges;

• A $25 million increase for the Complete Streets Program, which provides technical assistance and construction funding to eligible municipalities seeking to provide safe and accessible travel mode options for people of all ages and abilities;

• A $25 million increase for grants to municipalities for the prioritization and enhancement of mass transit by bus; and

• A $25 million increase for grants to municipalities to expand access to mass transit and commuter rail stations.

During floor debate, Rep. Kelly Pease (R-Westfield) offered an amendment seeking to increase the Chapter 90 appropriation to $225 million. Rep. Muradian supported this effort to provide additional road and bridge funding to cities and towns, but the amendment was defeated on a vote of 128-28.

Rep. Muradian noted that the Chapter 90 program is designed to help cities and towns address local transportation priorities by allowing funding to be used for a variety of construction purposes, including road resurfacing, sidewalk repairs, direction and warning signs, traffic signals, crosswalks, and street lighting.

Other eligible construction projects include structural work on bridges, culverts, footbridges and pedestrian bridges, and retaining walls.

Communities can also use Chapter 90 funding for the purchase or long-term lease of certain road-building equipment specifically related to a Chapter 90 project, such as backhoes, catch basin cleaners, concrete mixers, excavators and pavers. Certain consultant services are also eligible for Chapter 90 reimbursement, including civil engineering, land surveying services and environmental permitting support, as well as miscellaneous expenses such as salt storage sheds and garages for housing road-building equipment.