On April 10, Advisory Board Executive Director Brian Kane testified before the Joint Committee on Transportation in support of House Bill H.53 – An Act Financing Long Term Improvements to Municipal Roads and Bridges. Brian testified alongside the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Executive Office for Administration and Finance, MassDOT. The hearing, and Brian’s testimony, can be viewed at this link.
Brain Kane, Executive Director — Testimony before the Joint Committee on Transportation re: H53, Chapter 90 funding
April 10, 2025
Good afternoon and thank you to both chairs for this opportunity to testify before the Joint Committee on Transportation today, its first such hearing this legislative session. Congratulations to House Chair Arciero and Vice Chair Philips on your appointments to this important committee.
As stated, my name is Brian Kane and I have the distinct honor to serve as Executive Director of the MBTA Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is created and authorized by Chapter 161a of the general laws. Our organization is unique, in that it is a public body that neither works for the Administration, not the MBTA, nor the General Court. Myself and my staff work for the leaders of 178 cities and towns in across the eastern half of Massachusetts, ranging from the Cape Cod Canal to Wachusett Mountain, Salisbury on the New Hampshire border to Sutton in Worcester County, and from Worcester to Winchester and almost every community in between. The population of these cities and towns equals 78% of the Commonwealth’s population, including 19 of the 20 largest cities in Massachusetts.
Last year I had the great honor to serve on the Governor’s Transportation Funding Task force along with Senator Crighton, and many others who are here today. As part of that process, myself and the task force heard in detail about the condition of local roads, bridges, culverts, sidewalks, and other infrastructure, and the need for increased and continual funding. Both on the task force, and as part of my job duties, I hear from Select Board members, Mayors, DPW Commissioners, planners, and a host of other municipal leaders about their desire for both increased chapter 90 funding, but also their gratitude to recent innovations championed by the Legislature in general and this committee in particular to create new grant programs specifically for critical infrastructure like municipal bridges and culverts. We urge you to continue these types of innovations to provide both targeted and additional funding to cities and towns.
MBTA buses operate on municipally owned and operated streets, and many of those who take the rapid transit or commuter rail drive on chapter 90 eligible roads and bridges to get to MBTA stations. The symbiotic relationship between the MBTA and its cities and towns makes it essential that each have the resources to continue to work together. I’d like to thank the House members of this committee for its support of the supplemental budget yesterday that will direct millions in much needed funding to the MBTA. The MBTA Advisory Board and its 178 communities urges the Senate to quickly follow suite, and for this committee to continue to lead on Chapter 90 to give cities and towns the funding necessary adequately operate and maintain the local road and bridge infrastructure that supports the MBTA, and all activities carried on daily by the great citizens of this commonwealth. Thank you