Funding for Local Projects Adopted in Final Transportation, Environmental, and Capital Bond Bills

BOSTON — State Representative David Linsky (D-Natick) announced today that the towns of Natick, Sherborn, and Millis will greatly benefit from the adoption of numerous funding earmarks included in the Transportation, Environmental, and Capital Bond Bill Conference Committee Reports released late last night. While each bond bill was under review, Linsky worked closely with his colleagues in the House and on the House Committee on Ways and Means (of which he is a member) to include funding earmarks for his district into the House version of the bond bills. Linsky also voiced his support for retaining these earmarks in the final conference report to members of the respective Conference Committees (Conference Committees are members appointed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bond bills). Linsky’s efforts resulted in the adoption of the majority of his House earmarks into the final conference committee reports.

Representative Linsky stated, “I have worked extremely hard all year to ensure that the towns in my district have access to state bond money in order to provide much-needed financial assistance for many local projects that are of great value to our community. I couldn’t be happier that my towns will benefit significantly as a result of these earmarks.”

Under the final environmental bond bill, the town of Natick will receive:

• $250,000 for the control or eradication of invasive aquatic species at Lake Cochituate State Park;

• $100,000 for emergency repairs to the Civil War Monument on the Natick Common;

• $400,000 for improvements at Hunnewell Field;

• $500,000 for improvements to Sargent Field;

• $750,000 for expansion and improvements to JJ Lane Park;

• $250,000 for improvements to Murphy Playground; and

• $100,000 for improvements to Coolidge Field.

The town of Sherborn will receive:

• $150,000 for improvements to Farm Pond.

Lastly, the town of Millis will receive:

• $150,000 for improvements to the Town Beach,

• $150,000 for wetland restoration and drainage repair on Myrtle Street.

Under the final Transportation Bond Bill, the town of Natick will receive:

• $250,000 for a comprehensive study of necessary road improvements of the Route 9 corridor from Southboro to Wellesley;

• $1,500,000 for improvements to the intersections of state highway routes 9 and 27 and state highway route 9 and Oak street in the town of Natick;

• $750,000 for the re-paving of the Pleasant Street Bridge over the Charles River in Natick;

• $750,000 for the re-paving of the Boden Lane Bridge over the CSX railroad tracks in Natick; and

• $7,000,000 for the construction of a parking garage in downtown Natick.

The town of Millis will receive:

• $2,500,000 for the bridge replacement on Pleasant Street over the Charles River in the town of Millis; and

• $12,000 for storm water management.

Under the final General Capital Bond Bill, the Town of Natick will receive:

• $8,000,000 for the construction of a parking garage; and

• $1,000,000 for the construction of a new Senior Center and Community Center.

The town of Millis will receive:

• $1,000,000 for the construction of a new public safety building.