MassDOT Launches Comment Period for FY26-FY30 Capital Investment Plan

12:41PM / Sunday, June 01, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing that the public comment period for the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-Fiscal Year 2030 five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) will be held from Friday, May 23, through Thursday, June 12. This five-year plan includes approximately $18.6 billion in planned transportation investments.

The CIP reflects how the Healey-Driscoll Administration prioritizes and funds local and statewide transportation projects and determines funding for infrastructure, including railroad and transit projects, accessibility upgrades, roadway and bridge improvements, municipal projects, and investments for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). The plan describes both projects and programs for improving transportation throughout Massachusetts, including local aid grant programs which support municipal transportation infrastructure needs.

Included in the proposed CIP is more than $1 billion for the MBTA over five years, including funding for Red Line and Orange Line vehicles, bi-level commuter rail coaches, power system upgrades, and other investments.

"As we continue our mission to improve transportation for everyone who lives in or visits Massachusetts, it’s critical that our five-year Capital Investment Plan reflects the real priorities of our communities," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "That’s why we’re calling on residents, local leaders, business owners, advocates, and anyone with insight to participate in the public comment period. You know your communities best, and your input will help ensure this plan funds the projects that matter most — from roads and bridges to railways, bike paths, and sidewalks. Public engagement is essential to building a transportation system that truly serves us all."

In addition to more than $1 billion for the MBTA, the CIP includes:

$1.07 billion for the Cape Cod Bridges Program.
$1 billion for the Chapter 90 Program.
$424 million for the I-90 Allston Multimodal project.
$321 million for the I-195 to Route 18 interchange rehabilitation in New Bedford.
$204 million for the ongoing I-90/I-495 interchange improvements in Hopkinton and Westborough.
$198 million to replace the Kernwood Avenue Bridge over the Danvers River and the Hall-Whitaker Drawbridge in Beverly and Salem.
$254 million to support the Rourke Bridge replacement in Lowell.
$157 million to replace the I-391 Bridge over Chicopee Street in Chicopee.
$148 million to advance projects that support West-East Rail.
Funding for bicycle and pedestrian investments throughout Massachusetts, such as $42 million for Lawrence-Manchester rail trail construction in Lawrence.
Funding for local roadways and bridges, such as $11 million for the reconstruction of North Road and Damon Pond Road in Chesterfield.
Investments in Massachusetts’ public use airports, such as $15 million for runway reconstruction for the Beverly Regional Airport.

Input on the proposed CIP from the members of the public will be used to help inform the future designs of statewide projects as well as transportation capital investment decisions. Additionally, public comments allow MassDOT to understand the level of community support for projects in the draft CIP. There are several ways to provide feedback on the plan:

Send comments by email to: MASSCIP@state.ma.us.
Explore projects and provide comments online using the CIP Comment Tool: https://gis.massdot.state.ma.us/dataviewers/projectviewer/
Mail comments in writing: Manager of Capital Planning, MassDOT Office of Transportation, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4150, Boston, MA 02116.
Participate in one or more of the six regional CIP informational public meetings listed below. Register in advance of the meeting at www.mass.gov/CIP. While each meeting presentation will primarily highlight investments in a specific region, the public is welcome to comment on any aspect of the CIP.
- Cape Cod and Islands Region: May 28, 2025, 4 p.m., virtual.
- Boston Region: May 29, 2025, 6 p.m., virtual.
- Central Massachusetts Region: June 2, 2025, 4 p.m., virtual.
- Western Massachusetts Region: June 3, 2025, 4 p.m., virtual.
- Old Colony and Southeastern Massachusetts: June 5, 2025, 6 p.m., virtual.
- Northern Middlesex and Merrimack Valley Region: June 9, 2025, 6 p.m., virtual.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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