MONTAGUE — Selectboard Clerk Matt Lord joined local Fair Share Amendment advocates at the Center Street Bridge on Wednesday to stress the importance of adequate bridge funding.
As part of Raise Up Massachusetts’ “Fair Share for Massachusetts” campaign, a 10 a.m. Zoom press conference invited representatives from communities across the state to speak on their respective local bridges. Speakers called in from six structurally deficient bridges to describe the structures’ importance, as well as the struggles they face when bridge repairs and replacements are underfunded.
If passed at the polls in November, the Fair Share Amendment — which would institute a 4% tax on those making more than $1 million annually — would raise billions of dollars that would partially fund bridge renovations, according to the campaign.
The press conference was organized in response to “a new report from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) that shines a light on the state’s 644 structurally deficient bridges, examining regional and racial disparities and how lack of funding has contributed to deteriorating conditions,” according to a MassBudget press release.
“The report, ‘A Bridge Too Far: Sagging Investment Leaves 644 Massachusetts Bridges Structurally Deficient,’ is the first-ever examination that matches data about bridge locations to fine-grained census data on local population,” the statement continues. “Whereas the general population lives an average of 1.7 miles from a structurally deficient bridge, those who do not identify as non-Hispanic white live an average of 1.3 miles from such bridges, and households with limited English proficiency live 1.2 miles from a structurally deficient bridge.”
Representatives from Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lawrence, Great Barrington and Montague all stressed how vital their bridges are to the community. Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst and advocacy director at MassBudget, noted that 14.3 million bridge crossings take place on an average day in Massachusetts.
“We take bridges for granted, or at least we want to,” he said.
Baxandall also pointed out that the Connecticut River Valley region contains more bridges than any other in the state, as well as the highest number of structurally deficient bridges. Montague and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) are currently addressing a variety of bridge structure deficiencies, with recent developments including a bond bill allocation for repair or replacement of the Center Street and Papermill Road bridges; MassDOT funding design work for the Swamp Road Bridge; looming replacement of the Canal District’s Green, White and Bailey bridges; and renovations to the General Pierce Bridge prior to its full replacement within the next decade.
“Bridges that are closed curtail the community’s accessibility, and it really harms our ability to grow our economy,” Montague Village Store owner Kathy Lynch said, standing beside the Center Street Bridge. “We can’t sustain our community without additional funding for infrastructure. If I am ever fortunate enough to make (more than) a million dollars a year, I will be more than happy to kick in my fair share.”
Lord, who was elected to Selectboard in September 2021, expressed frustration that was exacerbated by the planned Fifth Street Pedestrian Bridge replacement project recently being rendered obsolete by MassDOT’s change of plans to fund replacement of the nearby Green, White and Bailey bridges.
“During my time serving on the board,” he said, “I’ve really learned how funding affects our community.”
The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.