The Baker administration proposed $200 million toward local road funding as part of a spending bill filed Friday that includes $50 million for a five-year small bridge program.
About a month after trimming spending by $50 million, Gov. Charlie Baker also proposed a $169.5 million midyear spending bill to shore up accounts in public defenders offices and homeless shelters.
Local officials this week asked Baker to support a local road funding bill, known as Chapter 90, that extends multiple years at $300 million annually.
“We are pleased to file $200 million this year to support local officials and are committed to maintaining the same funding level for three years to support long term planning and economic growth,” Baker said in a statement Friday. “Every city and town depends on access to these flexible transportation funds and these investments will ensure municipal improvements remain front and center.”
The bridge funding will support about 1,300 bridges on local roads across spans between 10 and 20 feet, according to the administration.
