FY2014 - FY2018 Capital Investment Plan
Report - Investment Category - Transportation
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is responsible for the
management and oversight of the statewide transportation network of roads,
bridges, tunnels and airports. The Department is organized into five divisions
– Registry, Aeronautics, Rail & Transit (including the MBTA), Highway and
the Office of the Secretary.
Over the last two years MassDOT and the MBTA have engaged in a statewide discussion
with residents, business leaders, legislative leadership and members and stakeholders
to assess the condition of the Commonwealth’s transportation network and
develop recommendations for moving the system forward to support a 21st
century economy. In January 2013, the Patrick Administration released The
Way Forward to improve the customer’s experience, promote continued
economic growth, provide congestion relief, increase passenger capacity and
save money. As drafted, this ten-year $13 B capital investment plan
would have reduced congestion on our roads, delays and crowding on our public
transportation system, modernized antiquated systems and invest in targeted
expansion projects that create jobs and economic development across the
Commonwealth. In July 2013, the Legislature approved a transportation finance
plan that generated nearly half of the Governor’s proposed funding for
additional capital investment. Several of the Administration’s goals are
reflected in this final legislation package, but the reduced level of
investment means that many worthy projects identified by residents and
customers across the Commonwealth will continue to be deferred. Furthermore,
many projects proposed in this capital plan require further legislative bond
authorization in order to move forward with implementation.
In 2013, the Project Selection
Advisory Council was created to meet and establish new statewide project
selection criteria. The Council, consisting of eight appointed members, will
establish the criteria and goals to guide the development of future capital
plans, including prioritized project listings that clearly articulate why
projects are advanced for funding. These criteria will be published after the
Council has completed its work.
While
the Council develops these criteria, the Commonwealth must move forward to
address known challenges within the Commonwealth’s transportation network. The
Fiscal Year 2014-2018 Capital Investment Plan, pending legislative approval of
bond authorization, begins to use the new capacity created by the 2013
Transportation Finance legislation to strategically provide meaningful
improvements across the Commonwealth. The publication of this budget will be
followed by a more detailed MassDOT capital investment plan. These plans will
facilitate the completion of critical projects to mitigate daily impacts on millions
of residents and visitors.
The
investments highlighted in this Five-Year Capital Investment Plan are based in
large part by feedback from MassDOT’s customers – residents of and visitors to
the Commonwealth. Over the past two years, MassDOT participated in over 36
public meetings, hearings and community forums to discuss what transportation
system the Commonwealth needs – both now and in the future. The feedback from
these meetings and other public engagement process has informed the following
criteria to guide the investments made in this plan. These criteria are:
projects must improve safety for customers and staff, promote job growth and
foster economic development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support housing
and commercial development and ensure that all portions of the Commonwealth
have equitable access to high quality transportation options.
The following graph reflects the Administration's estimated
capital investment in transportation capital projects and programs over the next
five years, as compared to fiscal years 2007 and 2013 transportation related
spending.

Administration Accomplishments to Date
- The
Patrick Administration continues its historic level of investment in
infrastructure. Over the past five years, the Administration has doubled
the capital investment in our road and bridge program and created the $3 B
Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP), the largest statewide infrastructure
investment program ever.
- With
the additional investment provided by the ABP, the number of structurally
deficient bridges in the Commonwealth is being reduced, from 534 to 437 –
a nearly 20% decline.
- Through
the ABP, MassDOT has become a national leader in accelerated bridge
construction. In July 2012, MassDOT hosted the Federal Highway
Association’s Northeast Peer-to-Peer Exchange on Prefabricated Bridge
Elements. The attendees visited the River Street Heavy Lift project in
Boston, as well as the Holloway Street and Bay Street prefabricated bridge
element projects in Taunton, to learn how MassDOT has successfully
implemented innovative technologies.
- MassDOT’s
overall construction program creates or sustains more than 30,000 direct
construction jobs across the Commonwealth.
- The
Administration has strategically invested close to $1 B in the Commonwealth’s
rail system through competitive grants, public funds and private sector
capital. These investments, some ongoing through the FY14-18 Capital Investment
Plan, represent the most significant improvements in the Commonwealth’s
rail system as a whole in decades.
- Bonds issued for ABP were rated AAA by Moody’s and Standard
& Poor’s, reflecting the strength of the financing behind the
program. The program also received the ‘Deal of the Year’ award from Bond
Buyer magazine.
FY2014 Highlights
(Subject to legislative approval of a transportation bond bill)
- $200 M additional commitment in statewide road and bridge projects. This is all
repair work in the form of bridge painting, resurfacing and other
maintenance and preservation projects to alleviate congestion and reduce
the backlog of much needed improvements statewide. Over the next year
MassDOT will advertise an additional 76 projects that would not have been
possible without the additional transportation funding.
- With over $450 M committed
to the Green Line Extension project to date, the FY14-18 Capital Investment Plan
anticipates Union Square service by mid-2017 and completing construction tasks
necessary to ensure rest of the proposed service begins by the of this decade.
- In September 2013,
the United States Army Corps of Engineers released the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the South Coast Rail project. MassDOT has adopted
the Corps’ document as the state-required Final Environmental Impact Report
(FEIR) and identified the Stoughton rail alternative as its preferred route for
providing the best transportation, environmental and smart growth benefits.
Once the state environmental review process is completed, MassDOT can invest in
developing the final design plans for the project and obtain all of the
required permits. The capital plan will provide the resources necessary to
complete the state environmental review and design process.
-
Continued contributions to the Regional Transit Authorities to support the replacement of
buses and improvements to maintenance facilities necessary to ensure buses are
available and run on time.
- The FY14-18 Capital
Investment Plan continues to fund record levels of investment in rail
programs, including the completion of the Knowledge Corridor in Western
Massachusetts, the continued development of the Industrial Rail Access
Program and future acquisition of rail lines to support passenger service
from Pittsfield to New York City and Springfield to Boston. Finally,
given the success of the restored Boston to Cape Cod service, CapeFLYER,
this plan commits resources to ensure permanent seasonal service is
available.
- MassDOT is
investing $116 M, funded through toll revenues, for paving, bridge work,
redevelopment of the Callahan Tunnel and for the conversion to cashless
(no stopping) All Electronic Tolling on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Implementation of All Electronic Tolling will improve congestion and allow
MassDOT to advance plans to modernize existing interchanges between the
turnpike and; I-495, I-95 and Allston/Brighton. Also, at the direction of
the Legislature, MassDOT is reinstating tolls on the Western Turnpike for
exits 1 through 6. These additional revenues will be programmed for
paving and bridge repair work from Springfield to Lee.
- With additional
funding appropriated in the FY 14 General Appropriations Act, MassDOT is
able to transfer $40 M in expenses from the capital budget to its
operating budget. The FY14-18 Capital Investment Plan was developed in
accordance with the goal of ending the historical practice of using
borrowed money to pay for salaries, rents and other operating expenses within
the next two years.