BOSTON — At a press conference at Logan Airport Monday morning, President Joe Biden discussed his Infrastructure Investments and Laws Act, which aims to funnel $1 trillion in grants to state and local governments to repair and build roads, bridges, transit systems, and other large-scale infrastructure projects nationwide.
Among an array of specific projects Biden listed was $62 million to be allocated toward Logan for renovation of its international terminal and roadways around the airport, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail electrification initiative, and the $20 million in federal funding allocated toward a grant to rebuild the Lynnway.
“We’re investing $20 million in Lynn, to make the community more bus, bicycle, and pedestrian friendly. We’re reducing congestion by undergirding the Lynnway, the city’s main North-South corridor,” Biden said. “When you see these big projects in your hometowns— cranes going up, shovels in the ground, I want you to feel the way I feel: pride. Pride in what we can do, pride in what we can do when we come together.”
State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), who serves as co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation, said that the president’s speech around transportation and infrastructure could be seen as federal acknowledgment and support of the local delegation’s overall vision for the future of transportation.
“Recognizing the great infrastructure needs here in Massachusetts, obviously, we want to be on his [Biden’s] radar as we’re applying for these grants. These are going to be decisions made at the federal level, so the fact that he’s highlighting the work we’re doing here in Massachusetts, shows that we’re in a strong position to continue to earn these funds across all sectors of the transportation system,” Crighton said.
Crighton said that Biden acknowledging Lynn’s progress in transportation infrastructure serves as an opportunity to apply for further infrastructure grants, including commuter rail electrification.
“The transportation bond bill that we have passed here really puts us in a competitive place to apply for infrastructure grants. And one of the ones that we had applied for was the Lynnway, but we see this as a real opportunity to tackle some of the bigger infrastructure problems,” Crighton said. “When you think of electrification of our rail, in particular, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to pursue funding, and it was really cool to have the president of the United States identify the city of Lynn, and the progress we’re making.”
Mayor Jared Nicholson echoed Crighton’s remarks in a written statement, adding that through federal funding for equitable and safe transportation, along with community input and engagement, City Hall could help shape a city that works best for its residents.
“We appreciate President Biden’s dedication to improving transportation and investing in the state of Massachusetts with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Nicholson said. “Investing in transportation and equity-focused traveling conditions that are safe and reliable means investing in our residents. We’re grateful for the investment and look forward to a robust public process to get community input so we end up with a design that the city can be excited about.”
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected].
