Healey-Driscoll Administration Submits Competitive Federal Applications for Four Infrastructure Projects from the Cape to Boston to Williamsburg
Together,
grant applications would represent over $2 billion in federal
funding for Cape bridges, Allston Multimodal, North
Station & Draw 1 Bridge, and Route 9
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll
Administration today announced it has submitted federal
grant applications to support the Cape Cod bridges, the
Allston I-90 Multimodal project, the North Station Renovation and
Draw 1 Bridge Replacement project, and the Williamsburg Route 9
Reconstruction. These projects represent a competitive bid
for over $2 billion in federal funding to support
sustainable, equitable, and safe transportation projects across the
Commonwealth.
Sponsored under the U.S. Department
of Transportation, the Biden Administration accepted applications for
the FY 2023-2024 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG)
Opportunity with a deadline of August 21, 2023, for application submission.
The MPDG is an umbrella term for three competitive grant programs issued
under a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). These
programs are: the National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants
program (MEGA), the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways
Projects grants program (INFRA), and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant
program (Rural). The Healey-Driscoll Administration applied to all
three funding programs as part of its competitive application process
to secure federal dollars for Massachusetts infrastructure projects.
“From day one, we said our
administration was going to compete for the unprecedented level of federal
funding opportunities available to support infrastructure projects across our
state that are crucial to our communities, economies, and environment.
These ambitious applications represent an important step forward toward
delivering on that promise,” said Governor
Maura Healey. “We
are grateful for the partnership of our state and federal delegations and
our shared commitment to delivering results for the people of Massachusetts,
from our rural, urban and coastal communities.”
"It’s hard to overstate the
important impact these projects have on the lives on Massachusetts residents
and our economy. They represent the gateway to beautiful beaches and
towns of the Cape, a transformative opportunity to better connect multiple
modes of transportation, improved commuter rail service, and an investment
in our rural communities,” said Lieutenant
Governor Kim Driscoll.
“Our administration is proud to be putting forward competitive, ambitious
applications to support these projects and take advantage of the unprecedented
levels of federal infrastructure funding made available by
the Biden administration.”
“MassDOT understands the needs of
our residents and is using every opportunity we have to gain funding
for these impactful projects,” said Massachusetts
Department of Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca. “From roads and bridges to
pedestrian pathways, we need to be strategic, proactive, and
resilient to best serve the people of Massachusetts. I want to thank
the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and
our elected delegations for their support as we submit these applications
to better infrastructure for all.”
“These grant applications are part
of our whole-of-government strategy for effectively leveraging President
Biden’s historic investments of federal funds to make Massachusetts more
competitive, equitable and climate resilient,” said Director of Federal Funds and
Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey.
“If awarded these projects will further important goals for community
connectivity and access to multimodal transit across the Commonwealth.”
Cape Cod Bridges
The Healey-Driscoll
Administration submitted an application for competitive
discretionary grant funding for the Cape Cod Bridge program, first for the
Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) combined notices of
funding opportunity, which includes the Nationally Significant Multimodal
Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program and the National Infrastructure
Project Assistance (MEGA) program. This will be closely followed this fall by
application for the Bridge Investment Program (BIP). MassDOT is the lead
applicant, applying jointly with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as the
owner of the bridge. Through these grants, the Healey-Driscoll
Administration has compiled a strong application that has the potential to win
$1.45 billion in grant funding from the federal government.
This application places
Massachusetts in the strongest position to get shovels in the ground
quickly on the Sagamore Bridge while laying the groundwork for rebuilding the
Bourne Bridge. The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues
to advance the permitting and design of both bridges.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration
recently included $262 million toward replacing the bridges in their Fiscal
Year 2024-2028 Capital Investment Plan, with the goal of ramping up to Governor
Healey’s $700 million total long-term commitment. Last month, the Senate
Appropriations Committee advanced President Biden’s budget proposal of $350
million for the Cape Cod Canal Bridges Project.
Allston I-90 Multimodal
Project
The Healey-Driscoll Administration
is pursuing a $200 million opportunity for a National Infrastructure
Project Assistance grants program (MEGA) to support the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project. MassDOT is the lead
applicant, filing jointly with the City of Boston. This application details a
strengthened financial commitment and collaboration between MassDOT, Harvard
University, Boston University, and the City of Boston.
This
project to modernize I-90 will meet the needs of motorists,
pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders, while supporting the growth
of the local economy. Within one mile of the project area, there are 42,000
residents; 16,000 households; 35,000 jobs; and $6.2 million in business
sales. This project builds a safer, more efficient multi-modal
transportation network. When built, the total number of annual crashes on the
I-90 mainline in 2040 is projected to significantly decrease. There will also
be improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations with upgrades to the Paul
Dudley White Path. There will be improved neighborhood access to the
transit and the waterfront, reconnecting Allston to the Charles River
Waterfront. This project incorporates connection improvements to Environmental
Justice communities.
As part of this project, a MBTA West
Station would provide connectivity to commuter rail, buses, shuttles, and
bikeshare opportunities. The project’s track improvements will
improve Worcester commuter rail service associated with the planned MBTA West
Station, which will allow for substantially improved rail access from Central
and Western Mass to and through this anticipated future jobs hub.
“The Allston Multimodal Project is
a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the lives and livelihoods of
families all across our city and region with safer roads, access to jobs, and
new parks and housing,” said Boston
Mayor Michelle Wu.
“In restoring the neighborhood connections lost to hulking highway
infrastructure decades ago, Allston will be home to new spaces for community
and access to the Charles River, along with a transit hub to serve the entire
region.”
North Station Renovation and
Draw 1 Bridge Replacement
The MBTA is seeking $672
million in grant funding from National Infrastructure Project
Assistance (MEGA) program and the Nationally Significant
Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects (INFRA) program for the
construction phase of the North Station Renovation and Draw 1 Bridge
Replacement Project.
Draw 1 is a critical connection
that carries all MBTA Commuter Rail traffic on the north side of Boston across
the Fitchburg, Lowell, Haverhill, and Gloucester/ Newburyport Lines. It is the
last crossing before these trains terminate at North Station. Draw 1 is also a
critical asset for Amtrak’s Downeaster, as ten Downeaster trains traverse the
bridge into Boston per day. This Project will support improved
service, facilitating the growth of this critical New England route.
The existing bridge structure and
associated signaling and control tower are outdated and in need of significant
repair and maintenance, leading to service delays. In addition to replacing the
bridge and upgrading signals, the project will also widen a bottleneck
across the bridge from four to six tracks and extend and activate two
additional tracks at North Station, resulting in significant operational
improvements, strengthened service, and anticipated reduced congestion.
“The project to replace the North
Station drawbridge is crucial to ensuring that we can safely and reliably
provide train service in and out of North Station. It will allow us to operate
trains more efficiently as we expand the number of tracks across a new bridge,” said MBTA General Manager and
CEO Phillip Eng. “This
is a significant investment in our MBTA system to better serve the public, and
we are confident that our forward strategy to pursue and secure federal funding
will help us meet our capital needs. I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll
administration for their leadership and support and our dedicated Finance team
for their diligent work. This project is another step to fulfill our commitment
to rebuild the MBTA system for our riders and for future generations.”
Williamsburg Route 9
Reconstruction
As part of the Multimodal
Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) combined notices of funding
opportunity, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is applying for $44
million in funding for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant for the
Williamsburg Route 9 Reconstruction. This federal grant supports projects
to improve and expand surface transportation in rural areas to increase
connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and
freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life.
This grant would allow MassDOT to
modernize and reconstruct Route 9, a critical east-west freight route in the
region, providing long-term
“Route 9 is a critical gateway for
residents, visitors, and goods to get to and from Western Mass, including
many of our rural communities,” said Rural
Affairs Director Anne Gobi. “This
grant application is an example of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s
commitment to strengthening connectivity between rural communities and the rest
of the state, as well as improving safety and
supporting economic growth for Western Mass.”
“These impactful projects will
support our residents throughout Massachusetts,” said Highway
Administrator Jonathan
