CONWAY — Gov. Maura Healey’s message at a Thursday afternoon press conference for western Massachusetts was clear — the state’s funding formula needs to be tweaked for rural communities and it needs to be done now.
“These [infrastructure] needs that we’re feeling now have been the result of, frankly, decades of neglect, not making the investments that we needed to make,” Healey said. “This year, we intend to go further through a game-changing transportation plan … Under our plan, communities like Conway and others across Franklin County will see the largest percentage funding increases in the state.”
Healey delivered that message following a closed-door meeting with municipal officials from nearly every Franklin County community at the Field Memorial Library in Conway. The governor was joined by Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, and Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi, along with the region’s state legislative delegation to discuss the county’s transportation needs.
The visit continued the Healey-Driscoll administration’s “Transforming Transportation Roadshow,” which has seen state officials travel around Massachusetts highlighting the governor’s $8 billion transportation plan, as well as Chapter 90 funding and a bridge funding bill.
The bill, according to the state, serves as a pillar of Healey’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal and represents $8 billion in investments over the next 20 years, which will be done without raising taxes by maximizing revenue from the Fair Share amendment and other existing resources. The Fair Share amendment, which was approved by Massachusetts voters in 2022, imposes a 4% surtax on annual income above $1 million, which is then split between education and infrastructure funding.
One of the key initiatives in the bill is increased Chapter 90 funding for rural communities, in which every town in Franklin County and the North Quabbin will see, at minimum, a 45% to 60% increase in money for roads. Many of those communities will see increases of up to 75% to 90%. For example, Conway will see its Chapter 90 funding increase by 82%, bringing it up to $473,011.
“For too long, the way that funding was distributed in this state, it was done according to population,” Healey said. “What we are proposing to do is change that, to have it done by mileage within a given community.”
Standing in the community that was devastated by weekly deluges and flooding in 2023, Healey emphasized the increased funding for roads, culverts and bridges will allow towns to become more resilient to severe weather events.
Other highlights for western Massachusetts include $2.5 billion for road and bridge repairs across the state through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which will oversee work conducted on culverts and small bridges; money for projects advancing the West-East Rail; and $110 million for regional transit authorities.
Tibbits-Nutt said the administration’s goal is to level the playing field for every municipality in Massachusetts, which in turn will make life better for those living in places like Franklin County, while also enticing more people to plant their roots in the region.
“These investments aren’t abstract. They are focused on our bridges, on our roadways, on our culverts,” Tibbits-Nutt said. “This is about ensuring, as I said, that independent of where you live in our 351 towns and cities, that you have the same quality of life.”
Conway Town Administrator Veronique Blanchard said in her remarks that she was grateful for the governor’s willingness to listen to towns like hers, which, despite having a population of approximately 1,750, are large geographically.
“The Healey-Driscoll administration’s focus on small and rural towns has increased both funding and administrative help for small towns like Conway, which is incredibly important,” Blanchard said, adding it is “incredibly important having our issues both heard and addressed.
“Adjustments to programs such as Chapter 90, which take into account the struggle that towns with small populations — but large numbers of road miles — face when trying to maintain structure, integrity and safety of our roads are essential for small, rural towns.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.
