AMHERST — Continued planning for west-east rail development, a commitment to stable Chapter 90 road funding for cities and towns, and money for improvements to unpaved roads and undersized culverts are among transportation-related initiatives supported in Gov. Maura Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal.
As the Joint Ways and Means Committee continues to examine the $63.36 billion “House 2” spending plan for the commonwealth, officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs were among those providing testimony to legislators and responding to questions at a six-hour hearing on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday.
“That was an impressive marathon presentation,” said state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, at the end of a 90-minute overview by representatives from the transportation offices.
“I saw so much good news for the entire commonwealth, and I want to just call out in western Mass. we recognize the road miles greatly,” Comerford said, observing how Chapter 90 road funding last year went up from $200 million to $300 million, with the last $100 million going to communities based on miles rather than population.
Maintaining that commitment at $300 million helps the many smaller towns in the area.
“It’s been a huge benefit for this region of the state,” said Jonathan Gulliver, undersecretary and highway administrator for MassDOT.
Comerford and state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, co-chaired the hearing from the Amherst Room on the 10th floor of the Campus Center, one of six hearings being held outside the State House in Boston, and the only one being staged in the Pioneer Valley.
Comerford praised MassDOT initiatives that are putting communities in her district on a more equal footing.
“We love microtransit and we love (MassDOT) Grant Central, which is very thoughtful,” Comerford said of the program that offers money through six municipal grant programs. “We love the devotion to culverts and we really appreciate the unpaved roads.”
In fact, Gulliver said there were 68 applications to the Unpaved Roads Grant program, funded with $7 million from the Fair Share Amendment. That exceeded expectations, he said, and those are under review, with awards expected to go to 15 to 20 communities, based on the current funding.
Among those observing the proceedings were former state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, now associate vice chancellor for government relations at the UMass — who was applauded by Comerford for her legislative work on rural issues such as the support for unpaved roads — Kristen Elechko, director of Healey’s western office, and staff from various legislative offices, including Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, whose district is home to the campus.
Comerford noted that court officers accompanied the legislators, setting up the room similar to how it would be in the legislative chambers, with participants arriving throughout the session.
With roads taking a beating this winter, Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow, said the methodology for distributing Chapter 90 money by miles of roadway is important. But he added that the bridge system is also a challenge.
“A lot of my communities are suffering from bridges that have been out for months, for years and sometimes even decades,” Oliveira said. “Our communities can’t afford to do it all on their own.”
West-East rail
As important to area residents, he said, is the game-changer that west-east rail could be, noting he finds it unconscionable that out-of-state residents have access to transit and the MBTA, “yet western Massachusetts doesn’t.”
Oliveira said he is concerned that much of the money for rail improvements is from pending awards from the federal government. He also had questions about whether the planned Palmer rail station will become a reality, asking that this stop not be sidetracked or sidelined in favor of greater population centers like Springfield and Pittsfield.
Meredith Slesinger, rail and transit administrator at MassDOT, said that the west-east rail is a component of Compass Rail and investments needed for the network buildout are always being pursued. Compass Rail is a long-term vision for intercity passenger train service that involves creating a network of routes running north-south and east-west, with Springfield’s Union Station as a central hub.
“Everything’s still moving in the right direction,” Slesinger said, adding that signs are that the federal government is still investing in rail in New England.
Phil Eng, interim secretary of MassDOT, said the agency will be aggressive in pursuing every single dollar because so much more is needed in rail development.
The overall MassDOT budget is up by $94.5 million, an 8% increase, to $1.3 billion.
“This budget is really about momentum,” Gulliver said. “This proposal supports our continued focus on recruitment of high-quality talent for our expanded capital investment plan, as well as our day-to-day operations and maintenance.”
But this winter the state has so far spent $156.5 million in winter road costs, with 23 statewide events and 62.1 inches of snow on average, or about double the typical yearly spending on removing snow and ice.
Environment, energy
Later in the day, Rebecca Tepper, secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, told the Ways and Means members that the state must continue to invest in resilient infrastructure, or the physical systems and structures designed to withstand and recover from natural disasters and climate change impacts.
“Every $1 we invest today saves us $13 in avoided damages in the future,” Tepper said.
Several legislators asked questions around the high utility bills faced by many residents and the immediate need to lower costs.
Tepper said energy affordability is what Healey is focused on around the clock and a multi-prong approach is being used to address consumer concerns. She pointed to the heat pump rates that will save $500 per household, as well as efforts to repeal a state law that limits use of nuclear energy without an affirmative ballot vote by residents.
The Department of Public Utilities also approved a petition by Eversource for a pipeline project and is interested in a new hydropower project, as well.
Comerford asked about the state’s energy siting and permitting law and whether the state agencies would have enough resources to deal with applications, while at the same time protecting the many rural communities in her district from solar and battery projects that could cause damage.
“We don’t want them to be rolled, and we want there to be a green future,” Comerford said.
Comerford said she is concerned about grid interconnections and the regional delivery of green energy, stressing the need to ensure that anyone who wants to install rooftop solar can do so without sacrificing the preservation of local green spaces.
The budget includes $200 million in capital authorization for the Department of Conservation and Recreation transportation infrastructure, which includes the Norwottuck Rail Trail as a year-round biking and walking corridor.
But legislators asked DCR Commissioner Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, the former Easthampton mayor, whether significant cuts in her operational budget will be damaging. DCR is slated to get $104.38 million for state parks operations, down from $113.8 million.
She acknowledged this. “Very real, and something we were ready for,” LaChapelle said.
Still, she said the governor has deeply supported DCR and the agency will tap into the strategic readiness initiative known as the Mass Ready Act. LaChapelle said $200 million in Fair Share Amendment money is going to maintenance, culverts and other high-visibility, high-need projects that had previously been put aside.
On the topic of contamination from forever chemicals, or PFAS, Comerford asked Bonnie Heiple, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, about the Mass Ready Act’s efforts to deal with biosolids and sewage sludge.
Heiple said this is still in a study phase, trying to get a handle on what is being taken into the state, and next steps will be working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture to address the use of biosolids as fertilizer at farms.
There were also questions centered on the Quabbin Reservoir and potential access to its water brought by Rep. Todd Smola, R-Palmer.
Comerford observed that in addition to the four towns disincorporated nearly a century ago to create the Quabbin, the graves of 7,500 individuals were exhumed before its construction.
With praise for MassWildlife’s Hunters Share the Harvest program, where venison is donated to combat hunger, Rep. Kelly Pease, R-Westfield, encouraged state officials to support his legislation that would allow hunting on Sundays, helping to reduce the deer population.
“I think that is probably the only blue law that still exists in the commonwealth,” Pease said. “It’s pretty archaic.”
Reyes welcomes
Being at UMass, Chancellor Javier Reyes welcomed the legislators, noting that UMass Dining is going for 10 years in a row of being the best college food in the country, and thanked both the Legislature and the Healey administration for their unwavering commitment to higher education.
Specifically, Reyes said he is gratified with the BRIGHT Act, the $3.65 billion higher education capital investment bond bill, that will help deal with deferred maintenance and accelerate making UMass a carbon-neutral campus, and the Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy, or DRIVE initiative, that will strengthen research enterprise.
“I’m thankful to live in a state that values public higher education and understands the vital role research plays in advancing economic growth across our communities,” Reyes said.
Reyes said that UMass, as the flagship campus, is committed to making sure the pipeline of leadership remains robust.
“Beyond research, we are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of this campus,” Reyes said.
He pointed to the Sustainable Engineering Laboratories that will serve as a national hub on energy-related issues, and the UMass Transportation Center, which works closely with MassDOT on cutting-edge research into all aspects of transportation across the state.
And since 1969, free public transportation services at UMass have been offered in partnership with the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority, with undergraduates behind the wheel of many of those buses.
“Our students quite literally drive our local campus transportation network,” Reyes said.