Maintaining safe, reliable roads and bridges is one of the most important—and costly—responsibilities facing Massachusetts municipalities.
With increased Chapter 90 funding available for Fiscal Year 2027, communities have an opportunity to advance critical infrastructure improvements and make strategic investments in their local transportation networks.
For municipalities, however, receiving funding is only part of the process. Determining where funding can have the greatest impact, coordinating projects, managing requirements, and planning for long-term infrastructure needs all require staff time and capacity.
What Is Chapter 90 Funding?
The Chapter 90 Program provides Massachusetts cities and towns with state funding for capital improvements to local public ways. Municipalities can use Chapter 90 resources to support eligible transportation infrastructure projects, including roadway and bridge improvements and other work designed to maintain and strengthen local transportation networks.
For Fiscal Year 2027, Massachusetts has allocated $300 million for the Chapter 90 Program, providing funding to municipalities across the Commonwealth.
Distributed through the traditional Chapter 90 formula, which considers local road mileage, population, and employment.
Distributed based on local road mileage, providing additional support to communities responsible for maintaining extensive roadway networks.
For municipalities, this funding represents an opportunity to address immediate infrastructure priorities while considering how individual projects fit into the community's broader capital and infrastructure strategy.
How CSS Can Support Your Community
Capital Strategic Solutions works alongside municipalities to provide additional capacity and expertise as communities plan and implement important initiatives.
Depending on a community's needs, CSS can provide support across multiple areas of the funding and implementation process.
Project Planning and Prioritization
CSS can work with municipal leaders and departments to identify priorities, organize potential projects, evaluate needs, and develop a clear path from available funding to implementation.
Capital Planning
Chapter 90 funding is one piece of a municipality's larger capital picture. CSS can help communities evaluate infrastructure priorities alongside other capital needs and develop strategies that support both immediate projects and long-term goals.
Funding Strategy and Research
Communities do not have to rely on a single funding source. CSS can help identify additional state, federal, and other funding opportunities that may complement municipal resources and support larger infrastructure initiatives.
Grant and Funding Support
When additional competitive funding opportunities are available, CSS can assist communities with researching programs, preparing materials, coordinating information, managing deadlines, and developing strong funding requests.
Procurement and Project Coordination
Moving from funding to construction can involve multiple departments, vendors, consultants, deadlines, and requirements. CSS can provide project management and procurement support to help communities stay organized and keep initiatives moving forward.
Community and Stakeholder Communications
Road and infrastructure projects directly affect residents, businesses, commuters, and neighborhoods. CSS can help municipalities develop clear communications about project timelines, construction impacts, funding, progress, and anticipated community benefits.
Connecting Funding to a Broader Municipal Strategy
Chapter 90 funding can be most effective when communities look beyond an individual roadway project and consider how available resources fit alongside other capital priorities, infrastructure needs, grant opportunities, procurement requirements, and long-term planning.
CSS can provide the additional capacity municipalities need to connect those pieces and move projects from available funding to successful implementation.
Making the Most of Municipal Infrastructure Funding
The availability of Chapter 90 funding gives Massachusetts communities another opportunity to invest in the infrastructure residents rely on every day. The greatest impact comes when those dollars are connected to thoughtful planning, strong project management, and a broader strategy for addressing community needs.
Whether your community needs additional capacity to prioritize projects, coordinate implementation, identify complementary funding opportunities, manage procurement, or communicate improvements to residents, CSS can provide support from planning through implementation.
Ready to Put Your Community's Funding to Work?
Capital Strategic Solutions partners with municipalities across Massachusetts to navigate funding opportunities, strengthen project planning, and move important community initiatives forward.
Connect with CSS to discuss your community's Chapter 90 allocation, infrastructure priorities, and how our team can help turn available resources into lasting community improvements.
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