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June 8, 2021

Multiple Pressley Projects Included in House Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), co-founder of the House Future of Transportation Caucus, announced that the House Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill, the INVEST in America Act, includes over $18.5 million in federal funding supporting several projects championed by the Congresswoman through the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee. The legislation is expected to be marked up this week ahead of anticipated passage in the House before July 4th.

“Our member designated transportation projects, which I’ve advocated for in close collaboration with our local partners, are meant to address systemic inequities in our infrastructure and transportation systems and create healthier, safer, and more connected communities in the Massachusetts 7th,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “Thanks to our collective advocacy, we have cleared a major hurdle in bringing several of these key investments home to our constituents. I am deeply grateful to our advocates and to Chairman DeFazio for their partnership throughout this process, and look forward to seeing these critical projects across the finish line.”

The projects advocated for by Congresswoman Pressley that were included in the legislation include:

  • Warren Street/Blue Hill Avenue Multi-modal Corridor Phase 1 – $12,000,000
    Project Sponsor: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
    Location: Columbia Road, Boston, MA 02121
    Description: This project will make improvements focused on transit reliability, safety, climate resiliency, and livability across the multimodal corridor that connects Nubian Square to Mattapan Square through Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan.
     
  • Ruggles Station State of Good Repair Improvements – $3,000,000
    Project Sponsor: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
    Location: 1150 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120
    Description: The project will ensure the enhancement of pedestrian safety and security by increasing accessibility at the MBTA’s Ruggles Station, which services a dozen intercity bus lines, three high-demand commuter rail lines, one intercity subway line, and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor service.
     
  • Route 28/Route 38 Intersection Safety Improvement Project – $3,000,000
    Project Sponsor: City of Somerville
    Location: Route 28 at Route 38, Somerville, MA
    Description: This project will address longstanding safety and accessibility challenges in Somerville’s Winter Hill and East Somerville neighborhoods by designing more pedestrian and bicycle safety treatments.
     
  • McGrath Highway Road Diet/ Protected Bike Lane Project – $500,000
    Project Sponsor: City of Somerville
    Location: McGrath Highway Road Diet / Protected Bike Lane Project
    Description: The McGrath Highway Road Diet / Protected Bike Lane project is intended to create safe bike facilities along State Route 28 in the City of Somerville.
     
  • Davis Square Transit Signal Priority Project – $100,000
    Project Sponsor: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
    Location: 1 Davis Square, Somerville, MA
    Description: The project will deliver crucial bus transit infrastructure to improve bus service and reliability for six MBTA bus routes serving Somerville’s Davis Square neighborhood. Traffic signal equipment will be modernized to offer real-time detection of approaching buses and provide green-light privileges to reduce transit passenger delay.
    • “Thank you to Congresswoman Pressley for her partnership and support for one of Boston’s most important cultural and economic corridors in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021,” said Boston Mayor Kim Janey. “This investment will help improve safety, increase transit reliability, and strengthen the surrounding communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan as we strive to create a more equitable and inclusive Boston.”

    “Our community applauds Representative Pressley for successfully advancing critical transportation justice investments in Somerville under the federal transportation reauthorization bill”, said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Her leadership on this funding process will deliver quicker bus trips in Davis Square, equitable bike mobility in East Somerville, and major safety upgrades at the most dangerous state highway interchange in Somerville.”  

    “MassBike is grateful to have Congresswoman Pressley championing these specific projects that bring focus to the future of transportation in every corner of the district,” said Galen Mook, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. “These projects will define how we approach our transportation network in order to make real and lasting changes to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, and increase capacity for public transit. Though we have more work to do to get these provisions through the congressional process, and there are many more transformational projects to come in the pipeline, we look forward to the continued support from Rep. Pressley on these crucial issues to truly bring safe, equitable, active, and sustainable transportation to all residents and to all citizens who travel throughout the district.”

    “Thanks to Representative Pressley, we are one step closer to implementing desperately needed transportation projects in Boston and Somerville,” said Stacy Thompson, Executive Director of LivableStreets Alliance. “These projects aren’t about paving roads – they are about the freedom to move!  These projects will give more people in the district access to safe, reliable and sustainable transportation options. We urge congress to swiftly pass the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act.”

    “We’re grateful to have such a strong champion for safe and equitable multimodal transportation representing our region,” said Becca Wolfson, Executive Director of the Boston Cyclists Union. “Where too often transportation funding has gone to building highways and roads that prioritize motor vehicle travel, these projects selected for funding in District 7 will undo the damage of vehicle-centric planning on state highways like McGrath and Route 38, will prioritize bus access for residents of Somerville and Mattapan, and will make roadways that have been hostile to people who want or need to bike in the district as well.”

    “Ruggles station is a vital transit hub for the Roxbury neighborhood, including thousands of Northeastern students, faculty, and staff,” said Michael Armini, Senior Vice President for External Affairs at Northeastern University. “As work continues to improve the station, this infusion of federal funds would help ensure this crucial transit node is accessible, safe, and secure for all the communities that use it. We are grateful to Congresswoman Pressley for her advocacy on behalf this important effort—the true definition of a community project.”

    The T&I Committee process for considering member projects is separate and distinct from the House Committee on Appropriations’ process for considering Community Project Funding requests. Projects funded through the surface transportation authorization will be funded directly from the Highway Trust Fund, and they do not require a separate or subsequent appropriation. 

    More information about the projects submitted by Rep. Pressley is available here.

    In October 2019, Rep. Pressley founded the Future of Transportation Caucus, a Congressional caucus focused on centering equity, access, and sustainability in our transportation systems. In June 2020, she introduced the Freedom to Move Act, which would provide federal grants to transit agencies that move to a fare-free model, and reintroduced the legislation in April 2021. Rep. Pressley also co-chairs the Congressional Bike Caucus.

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