Mass. Adds $50 Million for Local Roads, Bridges

Gov. Deval Patrick's administration has released an additional $50 million to cities and towns for local road and bridge projects.

The allocation follows final approval by the Legislature of a transportation financing law and brings to $200 million the total amount of so-called Chapter 90 funding made available to communities so far this year.

That's still short of the record $300 million that lawmakers had authorized for local roads and bridges pending the final outcome of the transportation bill. But Patrick has said the bill — which became law last week over his veto — does not provide sufficient resources to address all of the state's transportation needs.

The new law includes higher taxes on gasoline and cigarettes that went into effect on Wednesday.

[Associated Press]