Hinds secures $29.7 million in capital spending authorizations to support key infrastructure projects
Boston — Sen. Adam G. Hinds, D-Pittsfield, announced Thursday that he secured $29.7 million in capital spending authorizations for local projects in S.2279, “An Act providing for capital facility repair and improvements for the Commonwealth,” a bond bill engrossed by the Massachusetts Senate.
During its formal session, the Senate voted to authorize up to $3.65 billion in bonds for repairs and improvements of capital facilities across the Commonwealth. Spending authorizations in the bill include bonds for state university and community college campus improvements, public safety and security facilities, and clean energy and efficiency programs.
Hinds secured capital spending authorization for seven local infrastructure projects in his Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District:
- $12 million for renovations at the Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield;
- $6 million for the replacement of the Columbus Avenue parking garage in Pittsfield;
- $5 million for repairs, renovations and improvements at the Turnure Terrace housing complex in Lenox;
- $4 million for the engineering, design and siting of a new police station in Pittsfield;
- $1.2 million for the engineering, design and siting of a new public safety facility in North Adams;
- $1 million for the construction of a new public safety complex in Heath; and
- $500,000 for roof repairs at the Clarksburg School.
2279 also includes authorization for the Office of the Trial Court to begin roof, masonry and window work at Pittsfield Superior Court.
In addition to Hinds’ local projects, S. 2279 authorizes the issuance of bonds for the improvement of capital facilities and for general government operations, including:
- $680 million for general state facility improvements;
- $675 million for trial court facility improvements;
- $500 million for public safety and security facilities;
- $475 million for state university and community college campus improvements;
- $475 million for the University of Massachusetts system campus improvements;
- $193.4 million for a municipal facility improvement grant program;
- $150 million for the Accelerated Energy Program, which develops and implements energy and water savings projects statewide; and
- $85 million for the Clean Energy Investment Program to improve the energy efficiency of state-owned facilities.
The bill also increases previous spending authorizations for University of Massachusetts, state university and community college campus facilities; and increases several project control and supervision, design and construction thresholds for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to keep pace with current costs of construction in Massachusetts.
The bill will now be reconciled with a version recently passed by the House of Representatives.
