Patrick Files Legislation to Fund Infrastructure Improvements Over the Next Ten Years

In joint association with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick filed legislation Wednesday to fund infrastructure improvements over the next 10 years.
“These investments will create the jobs and opportunity today that will build a stronger Commonwealth for tomorrow,” Patrick said in a press release Wednesday.  “A modern, safe, equitable 21st century transportation system is what our citizens want and our Commonwealth needs to unlock economic growth in every region.”
Patrick’s plan calls for disbursement of $13.7 billion to various transportation-based projects in the Commonwealth, according to The Way Forward: A 21st Century Transportation Plan released Jan. 14.
In order to pay for the many infrastructure improvements, sales taxes would increase from 6.25 percent to 7.25 percent and state income taxes would increase from 5.25 percent to about 5.66 percent, according to the plan.
While the increase in payments may seem unwanted, they actually come as a middle ground between improving quality of transportation and costing the public money, said Michael Verseckes, spokesman for MassDOT.
“’It’s never good to raise taxes’ — you‘ll hear that refrain quite frequently, but also it’s not a good time to get stuck in traffic, stuck on a broken-down train, or even to hit a pothole,” Verseckes said. “We’re really at the point where we need to take a look at the system we have and how we’re financing it, what we’ll wield and move forward with.”
The higher taxes also would be put in place to compensate for years of irresponsible money management in terms of transportation, Verseckes said.
“We unfortunately have a long-standing practice of borrowing money to pay for the highway system’s operating cost, and that is not a good practice in the business world,” he said.
MassINC Polling Group released a study Thursday stating voters are open to the discussion of raising additional revenue for transportation improvements throughout the Commonwealth.
About 51 percent of the people polled supported increases in transit fares for revenue to improve general transportation. 61 percent supported an increase in the gas tax to fund improvements for roads and highways, and 56 percent supported an increase to the income and sales tax to improve public transportation, according to the poll.
Patrick would allocate the most money to road and bridge projects in all parts of the state. Highway maintenance, new construction, regional rail expansion and public transportation are also included, according to the plan.
“Governor Patrick’s transportation funding plan is vital,” said Kelly Smith , deputy press secretary for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in an email. “This is why Governor Patrick, Secretary [Richard] Davey, General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott and many other leaders have been travelling the state to speak with both elected officials and constituents about the importance of the passage [of] ‘The Way Forward.’”
The MBTA would receive $3.2 billion for projects including replacement of trains, improvements of signals and tracks and creation of new technology for better customer service, according to the plan.
“MassDOT and the MBTA know that the passage of Governor Patrick’s transportation funding plan is vital to the sustainability and future growth of the Commonwealth’s transportation system,” Smith said.
Read more: http://dailyfreepress.com/2013/03/20/patrick-submits-bill-on-transportation-has-public-support/