Representative Steven S. Howitt announces FY26 Total Apportionment in Chapter 90 funding

Road and bridge funding part of $1.185B transportation infrastructure bill

Boston – The towns of Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Swansea are scheduled to receive FY26 Total Apportionment in state Chapter 90 funding assistance for local transportation infrastructure as part of a $1.185 billion transportation bond bill supported by State Representative Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk).

House Bill 4307, An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges, was given preliminary approval by the House of Representatives on July 23, when it was engrossed on a vote of 156-0. The bond bill still requires Senate approval and Governor Healey’s signature before the funding can be finalized.

Representative Howitt said the House bill calls for a $300 million statewide allocation for the Chapter 90 program for Fiscal Year 2026, with $200 million to be allocated to cities and towns using the traditional three-prong formula that is based on the weighted average of each community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%) and employment (20.83%). The remaining $100 million will be allocated based strictly on local road mileage.

Under the House bill, Representative Howitt noted that Norton will receive $547,171.05, Rehoboth will receive $622,543.69, Seekonk will receive $583,233.67, and Swansea will receive $564,857.64 using the traditional Chapter 90 funding formula. Additionally, Norton will receive $310,679.40, Rehoboth will receive $449,445.04, Seekonk will receive $337,719.69, and Swansea will receive $342,520.69 in FY 2026 Road Miles in funding based on road mileage alone.

Created by the Legislature in 1973, the Chapter 90 program is funded annually and provides reimbursement to cities and towns to help offset the costs associated with local transportation infrastructure projects. In addition to constructing, repairing and maintaining local roads and bridges, communities can use Chapter 90 funds for related transportation infrastructure work such as sidewalks, traffic signalization and street lighting.

Representative Howitt noted that House Bill 4307 also includes $885 million in bond funding to support three non-Chapter 90 transportation-related initiatives, including:

• $500 million for the bridge and pavement lifecycle asset management program, which assists communities with non-federally aided roadway and bridge projects and for the nonparticipating portion of federally aided projects;
• $200 million for modernization and resilience upgrades to municipally owned culverts and small bridges; and
• $185 million for statewide capital projects aimed at easing congestion and improving safety through multimodal infrastructure improvements.

House Bill 4307 will now move to the Senate for its consideration.