MMA alert on delayed Chap. 90 road money

The below came today from the Massachusetts Municipal Association – I emailed Senator Timilty, Rep. Garlick, and Rep. Winslow to ask that they assist in getting the impasse resolved.

Email responses (2) this afternoon from Rep. Garlick ==>

“Dear Pete The House is working very hard to release 
Denise”

“Dear Pete Thanks for the note.  Along with my colleagues in the House I am working hard for the release of these funds. The Democratic caucus last week dealt with the issue and the Speaker is calling for the release of funds as well. I will keep you posted.
Denise”

CHAPTER 90 DELAYED IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Further Delays Will Shorten the Chapter 90 Construction Season
Please Call Your Senators and Representatives Today to End the Impasse

Despite the fact that House and Senate members have each voted in support of a $200 million Chapter 90 program for fiscal year 2013, passage of this important legislation has been delayed by six weeks, lodged in a conference committee that has been unable to reach agreement on other issues unrelated to Chapter 90.

Please call your Senators and Representatives today and ask them to end the delay and move the $200 million Chapter 90 bond legislation immediately.

Under state law, cities and towns are supposed to receive formal notice of their Chapter 90 allocation by April 1 of each year, allowing for adequate time to plan and use their Chapter 90 funds during the entire construction season.  Communities cannot sign contracts and commit their Chapter 90 funds until they receive these April 1 letters of authorization from the state.  Because of the failure to pass the Chapter 90 bond bill, cities and towns have only received preliminary letters that will not become official until the bond bill and a “terms bill” are signed into law.  The 6-week delay is stalling projects and shortening the construction season for communities across the state.  If this continues, important projects could be delayed until next year, driving up costs and adding to the deterioration of local roads.

The problems started earlier this year.  Even though the Administration announced it would be filing a $200 million Chapter 90 bond bill last January, the legislation was not filed with the Legislature until mid-March.  Further complicating matters, the Administration’s bill included several major sections in addition to the $200 million for Chapter 90, including $1.3 billion for state projects and language creating a new infrastructure bank.

Concerned that this larger $1.5 billion bill could slow down passage of the Chapter 90 component, on March 22 the Joint Committee on Transportation separated the legislation into two parts and issued a swift favorable report for a Chapter-90-only bill to fast-track it through the Legislature.  The House immediately acted, ushering the bill through two committees and passing it with a unanimous vote on March 28, beating the April 1 deadline, a step deeply appreciated by local officials across the state.

The Senate then opted to hold another hearing on the legislation on April 5, and on April 12 the full Senate amended the Chapter-90-only bill to add back the $1.3 billion in state projects.  The House, which had not debated the $1.3 billion in state projects, urged the Senate to agree to the Chapter-90-only bill immediately, with the $1.3 billion state project bill to be debated later in the session.  The Senate held firm in its position and appointed a conference committee to resolve the impasse.  Unfortunately, the $200 million Chapter 90 bill has been stuck in the conference committee since that time.

PLEASE ASK YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO END THE DELAY AND PASS THE $200 MILLION CHAPTER 90 BILL IMMEDIATELY