Governor Patrick announces billions in capital investments for MA communities

In a news release dated November 17, 2011, Governor Deval Patrick unveiled the Administration's latest five-year Capital Investment plan in an effort to stimulate job creation and support long-term economic growth in the Commonwealth’s higher education, transportation, economic development, housing and other infrastructure and assets.

“These investments will put thousands of people back to work and ensure that Massachusetts continues to recover faster and stronger than most states,” said Governor Patrick. “These targeted projects will help address our short-term economic challenges and lay the foundation for long-term growth for generations to come.”

The plan continues the Administration’s efforts to create an affordable, accessible public higher education system, committing more than $1.2 billion to higher education infrastructure projects. The commitment includes: increasing state spending for higher education in Fiscal Year 2012 to a level over 500 percent from Fiscal Year 2007; funding construction projects at every University of Massachusetts campus; and providing more than $100 million in funding during each of the five years for state university and communities colleges.

The FY12-16 plan also makes strategic investments in the Commonwealth’s transportation network. Transportation investments include: $20 million for the Green Line extension project; $86 million for federally-assisted statewide road and bridge repair projects -- providing a state match to $308 million in federal funds; $8.3 million to continue the planning and permitting phase of the South Coast Rail project which will extend the MBTA’s commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford; and $18 million for improvements to parkways managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Highlights for FY12 include: $30 million in state-supported bonds to fund infrastructure improvements for the redevelopment project at the former naval air force base in South Weymouth; $21.8 million for the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to invest capital funds in long-lived, carrier-neutral infrastructure assets to more adequately equip residents and businesses to compete in the 21st century global economy; and $44.7 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides a one-stop shop for municipalities seeking public infrastructure funding to support economic development and job creation.

The FY12-16 plan continues to make major investments in the state’s public housing portfolio, which supports some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens, including: $90 million in FY12 for improvements to public housing; $78.5 million in FY12 in total spending for various affordable housing development programs; and $8 million for the Housing Innovations Funds to support the production of “innovation and alternative” forms of rental housing, including single person occupancy units, transitional and permanent housing for homeless people, battered women’s shelters, supportive housing for seniors and veterans and housing for substance abuse recovery.

The energy and environment investments made in the FY12-16 Capital Plan focus on the Administration’s three goals of investments in urban parks, preserving working farms and forests and protecting large natural landscapes for habitat. Funding includes: $13.7 million for parks in urban areas and Gateway Cities, which represents a 12% increase from FY12; and $25 million in FY12 for open space protection to allow greater flexibility to invest dollars on the best projects and to support the working farms and forests at the heart of Massachusetts’ rural economy, protect clean water and clean air, provide habitat for plants and wildlife and ensure outdoor recreation opportunities for all.