$2.9 billion bond bill would fix bridges, improve mass transit

By Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick filed a $2.9 billion transportation bond bill today that includes money to fix roads and bridges, extend the Green Line in Somerville and the Blue Line in Lynn, and add commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford.

The three-year bond targets what the administration describes as improvements to the state’s long-neglected network of roads, bridges, and mass transit while creating an estimated 10,000 construction jobs.

The legislation includes:

--$1.3 billion for improvements to roads and bridges. The investment would make the state eligible an additional $1.9 billion in federal funding for roads and bridges.

--$700 million for legally mandated projects intended to mitigate the environmental impacts of the Big Dig, which include improvements to the Fairmount commuter rail, the Green Line extension to Somerville and Medford, the design and engineering for a Red Line-Blue Line connector between Government Center and the Charles/MGH Stations, and the creation of new commuter parking spaces.

--$100 million for rail and mass transit planning projects that include the South Coast Rail extension to Fall River and New Bedford, the Urban Ring project, and the Blue Line extension to Lynn.

--$75 million for improvements to the Fitchburg commuter rail line, which would make the state eligible for an additional $75 million of federal funding.

--$25 million for regional transit authorities, which would include water transportation.

--$40 million for improvements at regional airports.

--$50 million for public works grants to cities and towns to support economic development.

--$20 million for fund public infrastructure improvements and affordable housing to support transit-oriented development.

--$15 million for transportation grants for small towns. The population limit was increased to 7,000 from 3,500, which will make 53 additional municipalities eligible for grants.

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