BCAT News

Burlington’s representative in the State House has signed onto a transportation and infrastructure bill that includes funds for bike paths in town. 

According to a release from his office, Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a transportation and infrastructure bill authorizing $10.9 billion for projects, including $400 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to address ongoing safety concerns identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management Inspection and $250 million for the East-West passenger rail project.

“I’m proud that my colleagues and I prioritized these critical investments in essential transportation projects for the Commonwealth that will prioritize making our roads, bridges, and public transportation safe and efficient,” said Representative Gordon. “This bill will advance our transportation goals statewide and provide resources for important projects in Bedford and Burlington”.

Funding for the 21st Middlesex District includes: 

• $150,000 for improvements to the Reformatory Branch Trail in Bedford;
• $150,000 for the maintenance and improvement of bike and pedestrian paths in Burlington.
• $500,000 for the continuation of the MBTA Bus Route 354 with all-day service 
• $500,000 for the continuation of current service levels of the MBTA Bus Route 76

In light of recently proposed cutbacks to bus service in the 21st Middlesex District under the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign, Representative Gordon joined his colleagues Representative Michelle Ciccolo (D-Lexington) and Representative Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn) to include successful amendments that authorize the MBTA to use additional funding for the continuation of MBTA bus routes 354 and 76 at current service levels. The MBTA is currently soliciting public feedback relative to proposed service changes and is scheduled to finalize the bus service network in Fall 2022.

“I’m grateful to Representative Ciccolo and Representative Haggerty for this shared effort to protect MBTA bus service in our districts,” said Representative Gordon. “These bus services are critical for many of our constituents, and we must now work together to convince the Administration to include these routes in the final redesign plan”. 

Other highlights from the bill include:

• $2.8B for projects on the interstate and non-interstate federal highway system;
• $1.37B for sustainable transit system modernization and rail improvement
• $1.27B for non-federally aided roadway and bridge projects and for the nonparticipating portion of federally aided projects;
• $200M for projects that reduce emissions such as public alternative fueling stations and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, e-bikes, public transportation, and replacement of high-emissions vehicles;
• Updates safety requirements to be met prior to excavation projects
• Authorizes vehicles or trailers used for maintenance, construction activities in highway work zones to display flashing blue lights with a permit from the registrar
• Requires the MBTA to provide parking alternatives to commuters when it demolishes or reconstructs parking lots or garages it owns or operates
• Requires MassDOT, in consultation with the Comptroller, to develop and operate a publicly accessible and searchable database to report on this bill’s expenditures and any project receiving federal funding from the federal Infrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act of 2021
• Establishes a commission to review and receive testimony concerning public entities, including those that may be created by statute in the future, with the ability to design, permit, construct, operate and maintain passenger rail service that meets the standards of the Final Alternatives in the East-West Passenger Rail Study Final Report issued by MassDOT in 2021

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.