House of Representatives Completes Transportation Bond Bill

Representative Bradley secures inclusion of local projects

June 13, 2008

Boston- Representative Garrett J. Bradley (D-Hingham) is pleased to announce the inclusion of several local transportation projects totaling just over $5,000,000 that will benefit the towns of Hingham and Hull.  The funding was included, at the request of Representative Bradley, in the recently passed Transportation Bond Bill which now heads to the Senate for debate.

Projects included in the bill that affect the towns of Hingham and Hull were:

• $400,000 for Summer Street and George Washington Boulevard Reconstruction: Study and design to make Summer Street in the town of Hingham, including the Hingham Rotary on Route 3A and George Washington Boulevard in the towns of Hingham and Hull, safer for commuters, pedestrians and bicyclists.

• $150,000 for the Pemberton Pier Commuter Float:  300-400 commuters take the commuter boat from Hull to Boston on a daily basis.  These funds will repair the commuter float which is exposed to the south west weather and wave action which damages the float at a much faster pace than other MBTA floats

• $1,650,000 for the Rockland Street Bridge: The Rockland Street Bridge project is a rehabilitation project involving the complete replacement of the bridge

• $1,750,000 for the Rockland Street Reconstruction: Study, design and reconstruction of Rockland Street in the Town of Hingham, including re-pavement, new environmental friendly drainage system, new sidewalks, crosswalks and bicycle lane.

• $1,068,000 for the Abington Street Reconstruction:  Construction of a full sidewalk, drainage improvements and new water line on Abington Street.

Representative Bradley stated, “I was pleased Ways & Means Committee Chairman Robert DeLeo agreed with me that these projects were a priority and I appreciate his willingness to include them in the final bill.”

The Transportation Bond Bill will now be debated in the Senate.  The differences between the House and Senate versions of the Bond bills will be decided by a conference committee made up of members of both branches.  The final version will then be sent to Governor Patrick for his approval.  The Governor and his administration determine the schedule and priority of  projects to be completed.