Tarr and state reps announce highway funding for Boxford and Topsfield

BOSTON — Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) and a slew of state representatives have announced extra funding for highways.

“Projects such as paving streets, securing the structural soundness of bridges, building safe sidewalks, and others, are important priorities for cities and towns, and they need and deserve state partnership,” Tarr said in the announcement.

The new round of transportation infrastructure funding was authorized by the Legislature through a line item inserted into the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget, which was signed into law on August 9.

The funding is distributed using a two-prong formula, with $50 million being awarded using the traditional Chapter 90 calculation, which factors in a community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%) and employment (20.83%).

The remaining $50 million will be distributed based on each community’s share of road mileage.

The awards come from revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment.

Boxford

Joining Tarr in welcoming the funds for Boxford were Rep. Tram T. Nguyen (D-Andover) and Rep. Adrianne Pusateri Ramos (D-North Andover)

Boxford will get $149,214 in additional funding, for a total apportionment of $251,984, for this fiscal year 2024 (FY24), which ends June 30.

Topsfield

Topsfield will receive $83,466 for its road mileage and $64,114 based on the Chapter 90 formula, for a total apportionment of $147,580.

Sally Kerans (D-Danvers), a member of the House Transportation Committee, is the 13th Essex representative for the western half of Topsfield.

She said an adjustment this year to a portion of the funding formula is especially beneficial to smaller towns because it includes only road miles, as opposed to the full formula of road miles, population, and employment.

“I’m also pleased that we’re making road and sidewalk funds available earlier in the construction season this year to assist our communities,” she said.

2nd Essex

“Infrastructure is foundational to our communities,” said Kassner, whose 2nd Essex District includes half of Topsfield and all of Ipswich, Rowley, Hamilton, Georgetown and Newbury.

“This additional funding will allow communities to maintain and enhance safety on our roads and bridges and expand transportation options such as bike lanes, sidewalks and trails to provide enhanced mobility for all in our communities,” Kassner said.

The funding is being distributed using a two-prong formula, with $50 million being awarded using the traditional Chapter 90 formula, which factors in a community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%) and employment (20.83%). The

Ipswich will receive $124,084 for its road mileage and $110,583 based on the Chapter 90 formula, for a total apportionment of $234,667.

Rowley will receive $71,306 for its road mileage and $59,688 based on the Chapter 90 formula, for a total apportionment of $130,994.

Hamilton will receive $74,553 for its road mileage and $58,952 based on the Chapter 90 formula, for a total apportionment of $133,505.

Georgetown got a total of $170,945 whihle Newbury got $154,833.

Wenham

The town of Wenham is also split between House districts. The western portion is in Kerans’ 13th Essex while the eastern part is part of Rep. Jerry Parisella’s (D-Beverly) district.

He also welcomed the funds, a total of $84,685.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with my legislative colleagues, Senator Tarr and Rep. Kerans, to help Wenham secure these funds to assist the town with addressing infrastructure challenges all of our communities face,” he said.