Dartmouth receives over $600k in state funding for transportation improvements

Dartmouth roads and sidewalks will receive some extra support this year — to the tune of $619,498, all of which will come from the Fair Share Amendment.

All 351 municipalities in the Commonwealth will receive a collective $100 million. 

The Fair Share Amendment, also called the “millionaire’s tax,” passed in 2022. The amendment added an extra tax to households with incomes over $1 million annually, with the promise that the proceeds will go toward public education and transportation. The tax also paid for permanent free school meals earlier this year. 

“Our administration said from day one that we were going to make sure that Fair Share revenue was used to improve transportation and education for our communities, as the voters intended,” said Governor Maura Healey in a press release from the governor’s office. “This funding is particularly impactful because we are empowering cities and towns to decide how to use it to address their unique needs.”

The money was allocated based on two different formulas for each municipality. The first $50 million was allocated based on local road mileage, population and employment, and the second $50 million was distributed based on each town’s share of road mileage. 

Communities may use Fair Share revenue for construction, preservation, and improvement projects that create or extend the life of capital facilities. This includes costs for highway projects and pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Projects that are eligible would include installing sidewalks, bicycle lanes, new pavement, sidewalks, retaining walks, crossing signals, and other transportation infrastructure features.