Concerns are escalating as it appears that the Trump administration could be on the cusp of expunging hundreds of millions in federal transportation funding earmarked for Massachusetts. These fears derived from comments made by ex-Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation, Jim Aloisi. His words made room for apprehension but discouraged all-out dread. Massachusetts has, until now, secured a range of sizeable federal grants through the Bipartisan Infrastructure law of 2021 under Biden’s administration.
Highlighting the significant changes brought about by bills such as the Infrastructure Law, Aloisi informed that the upcoming Trump administration could have greater control over larger, one-off grants provided to States than its predecessor. Citing an example, he mentioned projects between Cambridge and Boston where the Biden administration had apportioned $335 million for the Allston I-90 Multimodal Project and a hefty $472 million for the North Station Drawbridge.
Linking with Aloisi’s view, Thomas P. Glynn, who had been at the helm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Port Authority, expressed analogous apprehensions. In a discussion, Glenn went on to say that these foreseen cuts seem almost inevitable, primarily considering that the projects potentially affected are yet to break ground.
Because the structure of these grant programs is reimbursement-based, Massachusetts becomes eligible to receive the federal funds only after state funds have been spent to carry out the work vouched for by the grant. This presents an opportunity for budget-conservative Trump administration to potentially reclaim these funds before they get disbursed.
The transformation of the North Station Drawbridge, which connects commuter rails over the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge, is a key project on the cards with a staggering price tag of $1.2 billion. Another significant venture planned is the $1.9 billion multimodal project which intends to realign the Massachusetts Turnpike, enhancing bus, bike, and pedestrian transit, in addition to opening up substantial Harvard-owned land for development.
The proposed $335 million federal funds under the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program are meant to alleviate issues caused by highways slicing through neighborhoods. However, such progressively skewed initiatives are failing to resonate with the Trump administration’s policy priorities, as per Aloisi’s observation.
Expressing his uncertainties, Aloisi voiced, ‘Anything related to transportation justice, favoring transit and rail over highways and bridges, is what I am skeptical about.’ He noted that such ideologies do not align with the focus of the forthcoming administration. However, requests for a comment from the Trump transition team met no response.
The Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ’04 also referenced the potential risk to funding for the I-90 project and underscored the relevance of swift action. Though his words were misleading, indicating a false sense of urgency, ‘We have the funding currently,’ he stated. ‘We sorted sections of the grant agreement, but quick work—warp speed—is crucial.’ Despite his comments, the Department of Transportation remained silent and refrained from commenting.
Quentin A. Palfrey ’96, the state’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure, asserted emphatically that Massachusetts would not quietly accept the potential loss of federal funding. He boasted of the Healey-Driscoll administration’s accomplishments, bringing nearly $9 billion in federal funding to the state for crucial transportation, climate, and economic development projects.
Building on this, Palfrey declared, ‘We are tirelessly working to maximize our funding, and will continue to leave no stone unturned to draw more federal dollars to the state.’ This statement, however, seems to disregard the fact that these funds are intended for use by all states on a fair basis rather than simply to be ‘maximized’ by any individual state.
Aloisi warned not to surrender to fear just yet, questioning the degree of seriousness of Trump’s intentions to introduce substantial cuts to the federal budget, and whether the transportation grants would face the chopping block. The potential for these cuts rests largely on Trump’s nominee for transportation secretary, ex-Rep Sean Duffy, who has remained mum on the Massachusetts projects.
Reflecting on the tumultuous situation, city spokesperson Jeremy C. Warnick remarked about their readiness to adjust to policy shifts that may accompany the new administration. ‘We’re putting in every effort to ensure that existing grant applications bear fruit as soon as possible,’ Warnick added, suggesting an eagerness to secure funds before potential policy changes could impact them.