New 5-Year, $12.4B Transportation Plan to Cover Highway, Municipal Projects

The first draft of a five-year Capital Investment Plan aims to cover all of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's highway and municipal projects, regional airports, as well as rail and transit, including the MBTA and Regional Transit Authorities, MassDOT announced Friday.

The $12.4 billion plan, which covers Fiscal Years 2014-2018 and can be viewed in full on MassDOT's website, includes funding for a number of projects across the Commonwealth, including $254 million for the South Coast Rail project, as well as $1.3 billion to complete the Green Line Extension. 

“This five-year plan will invest in critical projects identified in The Way Forward and reflects the Governor’s priorities in mobility, equity, environmental stewardship and economic development,” MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey said in a statement. 

MassDOT plans to host six public meetings in an effort to receive feedback on the first draft of the plan, which is expected to be delivered to the MassDOT Board of Directors for consideration in February.

The five-year CIP includes funding for the following initiatives:

• $1.3 billion to complete the Green Line Extension, providing full service to Somerville and Medford by 2020. 
• $835 million to begin the $1.3 billion replacement program of 43-year old Red line vehicles and 31-year old Orange Line vehicles, as well as improvements to tracks, signals and systems.
• $254 million for South Coast Rail, including early action improvements to rail ties, signal systems and bridges, as well as beginning preliminary engineering for the project.
• $252 million for implementation of diesel multiple unit service (DMU) on the Fairmount Line and expansion of the Silver Line to Chelsea.
• $3.3 billion for the rehabilitation and maintenance of bridges, including nearly $1.7 billion to complete historic Accelerated Bridge Program “mega” projects such as the Longfellow Bridge, Whittier Bridge in Amesbury and Braga Bridge in Fall River.
• $260 million to rehabilitate the I-91 Springfield Viaduct from the North End Bridge to the Memorial Bridge and review Viaduct options in downtown Springfield.
• $240 million for reconstruction of the I-93/95 Interchange in Canton, which facilitates private sector investment in the University Station development in the town of Westwood.
• $161 million for the realignment of the I-90 Turnpike in Allston.
• $160 million to complete the conversion to All Electronic Tolling on the I-90 Turnpike from New York to Boston and the harbor tunnels, including funds to begin ramp and road reconfiguration in FY2016.
• $192 million for advanced communications and traffic control technologies to reduce congestion and delays. 
• $1.5 billion for municipal projects, including $200 million per year for Chapter 90 and $582 million in other municipal projects identified for the first time in a comprehensive project list.
• $250 million for a statewide portfolio of Aeronautics projects focused on maintenance and repair of runways, hangers and navigation systems.
• $34 million for the Housatonic Railroad, including the rehabilitation of tunnels, track and signals in advance of eventual rail line acquisition.
• $31 million to complete track and signal projects necessary to restore permanent, seasonal Cape Flyer passenger service to Cape Cod.
• $211 million for regional transit services, including $15 million for the purchase of senior citizen transportation vans for the local Councils on Aging
• $196 million for the replacement of Regional Transit Authority buses and improvements to maintenance depots and intermodal facilities such as a new Pioneer Valley Transit Authority maintenance facility.
• $99.5 million for a comprehensive modernization effort of the RMV’s 20-year old Automated License and Registration Renewal System (ALARS) that includes the archiving of twenty years of data, removing old software and building a new, modern computer system.  
• $43.0 million to advance the “Reimagining RMV” plan, in collaboration with the ALARS project, to significantly upgrade the quality of services provided by the department

• Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
• Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m., Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worcester
• Monday, Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst
• Monday, Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m., Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield
• Wednesday, Feb. 5, UMass Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Rd, North Dartmouth
• Monday, Feb. 10, 6-8 p.m., Lynn, exact location TBD

“We invest in our transportation infrastructure because roads, rail and bridges create a foundation that supports private sector investment and expanded opportunity for all our residents,” Patrick said in a statement. “This plan makes investments across the entire state, is flexible, and spends wisely while creating thousands of jobs over the next several years.”