The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) board of directors recently voted to approve the transfer of $600 million in transportation funding for three major investments across the Commonwealth.
The funding will support efforts to modernize the MBTA commuter rail fleet, provide transportation infrastructure needed to advance housing development and repair and improve roads, bridges, parkways and multimodal facilities managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
The investments, authorized through Chapter 90 legislation signed by Gov. Maura Healey earlier this year, provide $200 million for each of three programs. Together, the initiatives are intended to strengthen transportation reliability, support the state's housing-production goals, improve safety and accessibility and address aging infrastructure and climate-resilience needs.
“We're continuing to make major investments in transportation because it touches every part of people's lives,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Better roads, bridges and public transit help us build more housing, create jobs, strengthen our communities and make it easier for people to get where they need to go. This $600 million investment is another important part of our work to improve quality of life and grow our economy.”
Three Major Transportation Investments
The $600 million package will be divided equally among three initiatives:
• $200 million for the MBTA's Rail Reliability Program. The funding will support the modernization of the MBTA's commuter rail fleet, including the replacement of some of the system's oldest locomotives. The program will fund 10 new diesel-electric locomotives and 10 battery/catenary locomotives, which are expected to provide cleaner and quieter service while improving the reliability of the commuter rail system.
• $200 million to support housing through transportation infrastructure. The funding will help communities address transportation improvements that are necessary to advance new housing development. Eligible investments can include roads and bridges, sidewalks and bicycle facilities, intersections, accessibility and safety improvements, lighting, stormwater management and other transportation infrastructure that can otherwise create barriers to housing production.
• $200 million for the PRISM Program. The new program will provide resources to repair, modernize and improve transportation infrastructure managed by DCR. Eligible projects can include improvements to roads, parkways, bridges, culverts, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, intersections, lighting, traffic signals and stormwater infrastructure, with an emphasis on safety, deferred maintenance and climate resilience.
Using Transportation Investments to Unlock Housing
The $200 million housing-focused investment is designed to help communities address transportation infrastructure needs that can delay, complicate or prevent housing projects from moving forward. MassDOT will work with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to identify and prioritize projects that have a direct connection to housing production and that help connect new homes with jobs, public transportation, services and other opportunities.
The investment comes as Massachusetts works toward an ambitious housing-production goal of 222,000 new homes between 2025 and 2035. The state added more than 34,500 residential addresses in 2025 alone, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration is using transportation and infrastructure investments as part of a broader strategy to help communities accommodate growth.
By addressing infrastructure needs early in the development process, the program is intended to help municipalities prepare the roads, sidewalks, intersections, drainage systems and other transportation facilities necessary to support additional housing. The approach also recognizes the importance of locating new homes in places where residents can readily access transportation, employment and community services.
Improving Safety, Resilience On DCR Infrastructure
The remaining $200 million will establish and fund the PRISM Program, giving DCR additional resources to address aging transportation infrastructure throughout its network. DCR manages a diverse system that includes roads, parkways, bridges, culverts, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and other multimodal infrastructure used by residents and visitors across the Commonwealth.
The program is expected to support projects that address both immediate infrastructure needs and longer-term challenges, including deferred maintenance, safety improvements and the impacts of severe weather and climate change. Potential investments include roadway and bridge repairs, improvements to bicycle and pedestrian connections, intersection upgrades, traffic signals, lighting and stormwater-management infrastructure.
Broad Transportation Investment
Taken together, the three programs represent a broad approach to transportation investment — combining public transit modernization, housing-enabling infrastructure and improvements to state-managed roads and multimodal facilities.
The MassDOT board's approval allows the $600 million authorized by Chapter 90 to move into these targeted programs, giving state agencies and local partners additional resources to address infrastructure needs across Massachusetts. The investments also connect transportation policy with several of the Commonwealth's broader priorities, including increasing housing production, improving mobility, maintaining aging infrastructure and preparing transportation assets for future climate and weather impacts.
