Transportation infrastructure: Where do we stand?

Jim Reger Region - Almost every day there is a news release about problems with our transportation system. Recently a new report released from the nonprofi t group TRIP found that Massachusetts's problems continue to grow. The cost of the repairs to just maintain our system continues to increase as we delay the inevitable work.

According to the TRIP report, more than half of the commonwealth's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. This problem is not only a public safety issue, but an economic one as well. No area in the commonwealth is exempt from these problem bridges, including Westborough, Southborough, Shrewsbury and Hudson.

Seven of the top 100 deficient bridges are local:

Interstate 495 Northbound, Southborough (Northboro Road)

Interstate 90 Eastbound and Westbound, at CSX railroad in Westborough

Interstate 90 Eastbound and Westbound, at Flanders Road in Westborough

Belmont Street Bridge, Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury

Washington Street Bridge, Assabet River in Hudson

The Massachusetts motoring public expects the ability to be able to travel our bridges and highways in safety. Moving people and goods safely is certainly the key to economic growth and development in the commonwealth.

These problems have not developed overnight. Historically, we have not spent the money on the necessary repair and maintenance of our existing bridges. Fixing a bridge is not as exciting as building one, but these times require leadership that is willing to invest in the future.

Our roadways are suff ering the same fate. Two sections locally were identified as being in the worst 100, both in Southborough: Main Street from East Main to the Westborough town line and Boston Road from East Main to the Framingham town line.

Chapter 90 funding to cities and towns has improved over the past several years. However, the rate of increase has not kept pace with the increased cost of construction. The rising costs of oil, diesel, asphalt, cement and steel have actually reduced the buying power for every department of public works. A few years ago, a mile of road could be resurfaced for around $40,000. That same section of roadway today is almost double the price.

As citizens of the commonwealth, we need to press upon our representatives on Beacon Hill to come up with the financial solutions needed to solve these problems. We will support the leaders who demand that we have a quality transportation system now, as well as in the future. The lack of resources to fix the problem is one that we all need to face together. The Federal Highway Transportation Program is almost bankrupt. We don't have the needed revenue from the Federal Gas Tax, which was last increased in 1993. The commonwealth's Gas Tax hasn't been increased in 17 years. No one wants a higher gas tax, but we all must face the consequences if we don't increase it.

Editor's note: Jim Reger chairs the Transportation Committee for the North Central Chamber of Commerce and is highly involved on a local, state and national level with the commonwealth's infrastructure issue. He is also the president of P.J. Keating Company.