Wilmington Officials Want State To Double Its Ch. 90 Money

If you're going to ask, you might as well ask big.

Wilmington officials feel the town has been short-changed by the state in recent years when it's come to Ch. 90 highway funds. So they decided to ask the state for a little more.

Actually, they've asked for a lot more -- double, to be specific.

In letters to state Sen. Bruce Tarr and state Reps. Ken Gordon and Jim Miceli, dated March 19, Town Manager Jeffrey Hull encouraged the Wilmington legislative delegation to support passage of a comprehensive transportation reform bill.

While Wilmington's most recent Ch. 90 allotment was $765,247, Hull points out in his letter that the town's allotment has averaged only $580,000 a year.

Hull says the lack of funding ahs forced the town to defer repairs on many of the town's roads.

"In order to catch up on the deferred maintenance of roads, the town believes its Ch. 90 should be doubled or each of the next five years," wrote Hull.

With the state dealing with its own fiscal challenges, the odds of Wilmington seeing its Ch. 90 allotment doubled are slim at best. However, Hull feels it's important to get the conversation started.

"It would certainly help if they doubled the (Ch. 90 money). It would allow us to catch up on some deferred roads in town," said Hull." But to the extent they can do anything to increase the allotment, it would help. You can only defer maintenance of roads for so long."

In his letters, Hull stressed the importance of Wilmington's roads to its overall economic health.

"With four connections to Route 93, and close proximity to Routes 495, 128 and 3, to commuter rail stations, access to various colleges and universities, and a location that is at a mid-point between New Hampshire and Boston, Wilmington has been an attractive community for businesses and their employees," Hull wrote. "However, deteriorating conditions and capacity limitations of the roads, highways and public transportation systems servicing the town pose a long-term impact on our ability to foster crucial economic development."