A great deal of transportation improvements are coming to the Bay State
The infrastructure in the Bay State is going to see continuous improvements over the next five years with regards to transportation. It was not long ago when Bostonians dreaded the words Big Dig, which was quite the headache for individuals living and working within the Hub. However, the result has been fabulous as we all now enjoy a much more efficient and orderly circuit for travelling in and around the city. Now, Governor Deval Patrick has just announced a new five-year capital investment plan that will see Massachusetts spend upwards of $12.4 Billion for bridge and road reconstruction in addition to transit and rail improvements.
Governor Patrick came forward to report that, 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. This plan makes investments across the entire state, is flexible, and spends wisely while creating thousands of jobs over the next several years. What the five-year proposal highlights, as shared by the Boston Business Journal, is the following exciting headlines which still must be approved by the States Department of Transportation board and the Massachusetts Legislature:
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$1.3 billion to complete the Green Line Extension, providing service to Somerville and Medford by 2020.
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$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.
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$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.
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$252 million for implementation of diesel multiple unit service on the Fairmount Line and expansion of the Silver Line to Chelsea.
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$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.
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$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.
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$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.
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$161 million for the realignment of the I-90 Turnpike in Allston.
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$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.
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$192 million for advanced communications and traffic control technologies to reduce congestion and delays.
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$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.
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$250 million for a statewide portfolio of Aeronautics projects focused on maintenance and repair of runways, hangers and navigation systems.
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$34 million for the Housatonic Railroad, including the rehabilitation of tunnels, track and signals in advance of eventual rail line acquisition.
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$31 million to complete track and signal projects necessary to restore permanent, seasonal Cape Flyer passenger service to Cape Cod.
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$211 million for regional transit services, including $15 million for the purchase of senior citizen transportation vans for the local Councils on Aging
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$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.
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$99.5 million for a comprehensive modernization effort of the RMVs 20-year old Automated License and Registration Renewal System that includes the archiving of twenty years of data, removing old software and building a new, modern computer system.
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$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
More Information: Boston Business Journal
