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April 6, 2007...Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, delivered welcome news from the Patrick Administration to towns in his district with the release of the total of $150 million in local transportation aid funding for the Fiscal Year 2008, which represents a 25% increase from the previous year. Communities in Moore’s district will receive a combined total of approximately $4.3 million in so-called Chapter 90 funds.

"Ensuring adequate funding to help our cities and towns improve local infrastructure and thoroughfares is a core responsibility of government,” said Moore. “This increase in Chapter 90 aid this is an important part of the state’s ongoing commitment to providing resources necessary for municipal infrastructure needs.”

Local allocations totaling $4,295,813 are:

Each year, Chapter 90 funding is allocated to cities and towns based on a formula that takes into account the number of miles of local roadway, population and the employment rate in a given community. The funding is reimbursed to the communities on approved transportation projects as construction unfolds.

“This increase will allow each community to accelerate its local investments in transportation infrastructure. Maintaining and developing our capital infrastructure is critical for our quality of life, our economic vitality and the proper functioning of our government,” Governor Patrick said. “Special thanks are due to Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray, former Senate President Robert Travaglini and every member of The General Court for their commitment to this program and their prompt passage of our Immediate Needs bond bill, which authorizes this increased level of funding for the Chapter 90 program.”

The $1.47 billion immediate needs capital bond bill was passed by both houses last month. The bond legislation addresses critical repair needs, secures significant federal grant money, satisfies legal requirements and improves government accountability and efficiency. By authorizing planned projects to proceed now, the legislation also allows the state to avoid significant cost increases that would result from further delay and to avoid significant disruptions to standard capital programs.

The bond measure also authorizes certain financing proposals that will result in significant savings to the Commonwealth and benefits to taxpayers. These proposals include extending the maximum term of bonds from 20 years to 30 years to more closely align the term of financing to the expected useful life of certain projects; refinancing certain state contract assistance and capital lease payment obligations; and issuing low interest cost bonds to pay for projects currently planned to be funded from cash, and using the cash instead to pay off high interest cost bonds.

For additional information on Sen. Moore’s work in the Senate, log onto www.senatormoore.com

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