Opinion: Massachusetts Should Prioritize 'Shovel-Worthy' Projects

"Like states across the country, Massachusetts is preparing to put these billions of dollars in federal funding toward 'shovel ready' infrastructure projects," write Lizzy Weyant and John Stout in Commonwealth Magazine. "These investments are designed to lay the groundwork for a strong, long-term economic recovery." The authors argue that "we learned from former President Obama’s stimulus package that it’s important to fund not just 'shovel-ready' projects, but 'shovel-worthy' projects," which is "the only way we will make our transportation system stronger and more climate resilient." But in Massachusetts, "[m]ost projects currently on our long-term transportation plan have languished for years."

Despite having laundry lists of desired projects, "many cities and towns lack the funding to do the necessary studies to have them listed on the state’s transportation plans. The Baker administration should set aside money to allow cities and towns to invest in those critical planning and design efforts that unlock more transformative investments now and in the future, with a particular focus on multi-municipal and regional projects." Strategic investment, Weyant and Stout write, can "shift our travel patterns for the better" and prioritize climate resiliency and innovation. "This new round of federal funding gives us an opportunity to reconsider what types of transportation projects we prioritize, and to ensure we make transformative investments that fund under-invested communities while bringing our transportation system into the 21st century."