You may have missed it in the pre-Christmas rush, but a huge federal spending bill passed by Congress late last week features plenty of goodies for Massachusetts.
The $1.7 trillion bill, which runs more than 4,000 pages, includes $225 million for 160 different projects across the state.
Some of the biggest investments involve transportation infrastructure in the Boston area, including $7 million to boost accessibility at commuter rail stops in Newton and $5 million for the Bridle Path project in Brookline, which would restore the median of Beacon Street to the design and use envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss represents the state’s Fourth Congressional District, where both those projects are in the works. He said Monday that the allocations in the new bill are the result of an “intensely collaborative” process.
“We do one-on-ones with all cities and towns in the district, get their top priorities, [and] understand where they’re going to be offering local funding, because local funding is key to leverage federal funding,” Auchincloss said. “And then we take those priorities and get on calls with the state representatives and state senators …They help us prioritize those projects based on their perspective on the needs of their districts, and also based on where they think state funding could come.”
Auchincloss said the money in the spending bill will generally not be enough to complete the projects, but that is not surprising.
“I never expect that federal funding is 100 percent of what a project needs,” he added. “I expect that federal funding will be leveraged to get more state and local funding.”
While the items related to Massachusetts transit pack a big financial punch, the legislation — which President Joe Biden has promised to sign — will impact the state in a wide range of other public-policy areas. For example, there’s funding for Hull, Melrose, and Manchester-by-the-Sea to increase climate resilience; for a business incubator run by the Berkshire Black Economic Council; and for Lenox to restore the roof of its town hall.
The roster of Massachusetts investments also includes spending on affordable and transit-oriented housing development, mental healthcare, and higher education and workforce training.
Many conservatives vociferously opposed the bill’s passage, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and former President Donald Trump, who described it as “ludicrous” and a “monstrosity.” Still, it passed the Senate with 68 votes and the House with 225.
In a joint statement, every member of Massachusetts’ all-Democratic delegation hailed the bill’s local investments, with Sen.Elizabeth Warren calling them “part of how we build a democracy and an economy that works for everybody.”
While Auchincloss acknowledged that it will be difficult to pass similar legislation when Republicans take control of the House next year, he voiced guarded optimism that the budget process will continue to work to Massachusetts’ benefit.
“If they want to put forward a rigorous budgeting process, I think we’re going to have … opportunities to continue to make investments,” Auchincloss said.
But he warned that it could be “a rough two years” if conservative Republicans threaten to shut down the goverment unless dramatic spending cuts are made — a strategy they have previously deployed.