Bissonnette voices concern over repavement program
Date: 3/10/2009
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- At the meeting of the Pioneer Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) last week, Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette voiced concern over the withdrawal of a $12 million repavement program for Interstate 91 by MassHighways. That $12 million is part of the federal economic stimulus money designated for Western Massachusetts and Bissonnette -- and Northampton Mayor Claire Higgins -- both wanted to know if those funds weren t spent now in Western Massachusetts, would they be re-allocated to another part of the state.
The answer was less than definitive from chair Clinton Bench of the Executive Office of Transportation.
Welcome to the relatively unknown organization representing Hampden and Hampshire counties that has the task of deciding where federal transportation dollars are spent in the two counties. It is a world of acronyms, deadlines and regulation that Bissonnette admitted has taken him three years with which to become comfortable.
From the Web site of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the lead agency for the MPO, The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the body which approves federally funded projects in Hampshire and Hampden counties. The MPO jointly develops, reviews, and endorses a Planning Works Program which includes a Unified Planning Works Program (UPWP); a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP); a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), as well as any transportation plan or program that may be required by federal and state laws and regulations. The MPO is a forum for cooperative transportation decision-making and will seek and consider the advice of any interested party in the Pioneer Valley. The Joint Transportation Committee (JTC) meets monthly to discuss transportation issues and makes recommendations on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and Unified Planning Works Program (UPWP) endorsements to the MPO.
While the mayors were concerned about keeping the federal stimulus money in municipal projects, Bench noted, This entire project is evolutionary.
Bissonnette said at a previous meeting the state attempted to have the MPO agree to use the federal funding for renovations to the Massachusetts Turnpike, despite the fact that federal rules prohibit the use of such funds on a toll road. The MPO members turned them down and want to use the $21 million in question on local projects that would improve the transportation infrastructure and put local people to work, he explained.
The goal of the group, which includes Mayors Michael Sullivan of Holyoke and Domenic Sarno of Springfield, is to try to secure $43 million or 10 percent of the total federal funds for projects in Western Massachusetts, Bissonnette explained. The $43 million amount was determined by the population of Western Massachusetts, about 10 percent of the state s total population.
In the first round of funding there is $21 million to be spent on shovel ready projects " those that have had gone through planning stages and are ready to be put to bid. Next spring, Bissonnette said there should be about $20 million made available.
In a press release issued by Gov. Deval Patrick s office on Friday, the process was described: Road and bridge projects funded by federal recovery money will be selected from a list of eligible projects in all regions and move forward to bid based upon readiness and the Administration s priorities, in order to meet the 120-day use-it-or-lose-it federal deadline. Additional projects will be funded by the remaining transportation federal stimulus funds, which must be used for projects advertised for bid by March 2010.
At the meeting last week, it was announced the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority would receive $16 million of federal funds and the following allocation of economic recovery money was approved:
Nearly $4 million for the re-surfacing of Routes 5 and 10 in Easthampton, Northampton and Greenfield
Nearly $500,000 for a school infrastructure program in at Jackson Street School in Northampton
Over $6.5 million for Route 9 re-surfacing in Belchertown and Ware
$4 million for rail improvements in Palmer
$1.1 million for street work in Hatfield
$2 million for the Red Bridge Road reconstruction in Wilbraham
Over $4 million for the Manhan Rail trail between Northampton and Easthampton
All of these projects and any others approved for the first round of funding must be advertised for bid within 120 days or the funding returns to be considered for another use.
Bissonnette said the local MPO must advocate for the funding to come here and be used for projects that will improve the infrastructure and provide construction jobs.
Everyone is rushing to do their thing, he said. You have to keep your eye on the ball and in this case the ball is the money. You have to make sure some money is coming here.
