Local Funding Obtained for the District this Year

Transportation Bond Bill

This year, the Legislature passed a major transportation bond bill authorizing a series of transportation-related projects. A bond bill, unlike a direct spending bill, authorizes the Governor with the bonding capacity to fund these projects. Although we are not certain the Governor will fund them, securing bonding authorization is an important step toward getting these projects done.

Arlington

• $500,000 to implement neighborhood traffic calming measures in the town of Arlington; 
• $300,000 for the planning, study, design, and capital costs to implement a Bus Rapid Transit pilot along Broadway; 
• $7,000,000 for a roadway redesign from Massachusetts Avenue and Pond Street to the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Bartlett Avenue; 
• $8,000,000 for construction of a parking facility at Arlington Center and Russell Common; 
• $75,000 for implementation of already designed pedestrian safety improvements for the Lowell Street, and Arlington Reservoir and Reservoir Beach area; and
• $5,000,000 for maintenance and improvements to the Minuteman Bike Path, Alewife Linear Park, Fitchburg Cutoff Bike path.

Belmont

• $360,000 for a traffic signal for the intersection of Lexington Street and Sycamore Street in Belmont (which is in addition to $100,000 of direct spending obtained in last year’s budget);
• $3,000,000 toward for the construction of the Belmont Community Path.

Cambridge

• $6,000,000 to create signal coordination at the intersection of Route 2, Route 16 and Rindge Avenue intersections, 
• $4,000,000 to alleviate congestion at the Alewife MBTA Station and on adjoining roadways
• $100,000,000  for planning, study, design, construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, repair, climate change adaptation, multi-modal access, and improvement of transportation infrastructure for the rebuild of the Alewife Garage in order to enhance traffic safety and traffic flow into and out of the Alewife Garage.
• $5,000,000 for maintenance and improvements to the Minuteman Bike Path, Alewife Linear Park, Fitchburg Cutoff Bike path.
• $500,000 for sound barrier and beautification along Route 16 along Seagrave Road and Columbus Ave

Economic Development Bill

The economic development bill is a hybrid of direct spending and bonding capacity.

Arlington

• $56,000 for the Arlington Historical Society for preservations of the Jason Russell House and the Smith Museum. (Direct spending)
• $1,000,000 for the redesign of the Arlington Heights Commercial Corridor, 
• $500,000 for improvements to Arlington center and Whittemore park and 
• $500,000 shall be expended for Arlington for a workforce training program. 

Belmont

• $250,000 to Belmont for the design of the Belmont Community Path

Supplemental Budget

This funding goes directly to the town and is not subject to the Governor’s authorization.

Arlington

• $100,000 for Arlington for unanticipated obligations due to the virus.

Belmont

• $80,000 for the Belmont Health Department for the staffing of a temporary COVID-19 contract health inspector.
• $15,000 for extraordinary expenses related to remote town meeting and safety equipment for local elections.

IT Bond Bill

Like the transportation bond bill, it will be up to the Governor to release this funding.

Arlington

• $375,000 for the installation of outdoor public Wi-Fi
• $120,000 for a cybersecurity assessment

Belmont

• $24,000 for an artificial intelligence system for email security
• $60,000 for a content management financial system
• $25,000 for a GIS-based permitting system for the Belmont Fire Department

 Cambridge

• $1,000,000 for the design and outfitting of a computer training and workforce development facility located in the Just-A-Start Corporation facility in North Cambridge