CHICOPEE, Mass. - "Airports, roadways, bridges, highways, rail, sewer and water, broadband, housing,” said Congressman Richard Neal. "All of this, I think makes a great deal of sense."
They are all included in President Joe Biden's $2.3 trillion Infrastructure Plan. Neal [D-Massachusetts] held a press conference Thursday to speak about the plan and what this means for residents of Massachusetts.
The biggest question people are asking is how this is going to be paid for. The President has proposed raising the corporate tax rate.
Neal, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee said it is time to make a major investment in infrastructure and is open to hearing other suggestions on how to fund this.
"I'm very interested in getting Republican help, I am going to try pretty hard. I would also say this is something we used to all agree on," said Neal.
The Transportation for Massachusetts coalition [T4MA] said if this plan is passed, it would make streets safer for pedestrians.
"We have roads that feel unsafe to cross so people don't get access to grocery stores or getting to school in safe ways and they feel cut off from those connections," said T4MA director, Chris Dempsey. "This program would invest up to $25 billion in making safety improvements for roads and streets just like that."
Another goal highlighted in the eight-year plan is how investments will advance racial equity by providing better jobs and transportation options to underserved communities.
"This is going to mean more investment in the regional transit authorities like the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and the Worcester RTA that provide daily bus service to tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents," said Dempsey.
But another concern is when Massachusetts receives the funding. It's up to Governor Charlie Baker and state's transportation secretary to decide where it goes. Neal said there is a need in Central and Western Massachusetts.
"I am a supporter of earmarking to make sure there is regional equity so this is not just Boston-centric," Congressman Neal said.
Neal said House speaker Nancy Pelosi has laid out an ambition timeline moving forward, stating they are hopeful the plan will be voted on and passed in the House by July 4.