BOSTON – State Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Paul Brodeur announced last week that the City of Melrose has been awarded $79,353 in state road and bridge repair assistance as part of the Winter Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP) through the Massachusetts Governor’s Office.
A total of $30 million has been allocated through WRAP to assist cities and towns across the Commonwealth with repairs to roads and bridges under municipal jurisdiction. Under the WRAP, cities and towns can seek reimbursement from MassDOT on expenditures related to patching potholes, pavement cracking, surface defects, paving projects; repair or replacement of damaged signs, guardrail, storm drains, and line striping.
“The record-setting winter from which we are still thawing out has put a tremendous strain on our communities’ budgets,” said Senator Lewis. “I’m pleased to see the City of Melrose receiving this important funding to assist with urgently-needed infrastructure repairs.”
“The condition of our roadways is a basic public safety issue,” said Representative Brodeur. “After the horrendous winter we’ve had, our infrastructure has suffered greatly. I’m pleased that the Commonwealth has been able to help with the release of these funds.”
The $30 million has been allocated from the existing Fiscal Year 2015 bond authorization for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). While WRAP is a separate effort from the Chapter 90 program, funds were distributed to communities based on the state’s Chapter 90 formula, which is based on a weighted average of a city or town’s population, employment, and total mileage of roads.
In order to qualify for reimbursement under the WRAP program, communities must complete their infrastructure work by June 30, 2015, and submit their work invoices to MassDOT no later than July 31, 2015.
