The War on Potholes: Because Drivers Shouldn't Have to Replace Rims Every Spring
Massachusetts has the 2nd worst roads in the United States, with 29.3% of major roadways in poor condition. Drivers nationwide spend an estimated $26.5 billion annually on repairs, tire damage, alignments, and suspension work caused by deteriorated pavement and potholes. Yet Massachusetts has committed only $300 million through Chapter 90for Fiscal Year 2027—an increase from prior years, but still insufficient for the scale of the problem. Meanwhile, experimental transit projects continue to receive massive federal allocations.
The Northeast experiences pothole damage 60% more frequently than other regions, making Massachusetts drivers particularly vulnerable. Over the past two years, the state has received billions in federal infrastructure funding. The Blue Hill Avenue bus lane project alone carries a total cost of $152.65 million, with federal taxpayers absorbing over $95 million for center-running bus infrastructure. Yet in Boston, Brockton, Quincy, and Weymouth, pothole conditions persist. Bad roads increase car insurance premiums and shift maintenance costs directly to drivers who use these streets every day.
As Your Congressman, I will:
Redirect federal transportation funding away from new bike and bus lane projects toward road repair and resurfacing.
I will vote against any federal transportation bill that allocates funding to new multimodal infrastructure projects without first demonstrating that 80% of existing state and local road repair backlogs have been eliminated. The Blue Hill Avenue project costs $152.65 million—that's enough to fully resurface over 100 miles of Massachusetts roads at standard resurfacing costs. Every dollar spent on experimental transit projects is a dollar not spent on filling potholes, repaving streets, or maintaining bridges.
Pass legislation establishing direct federal grants to local Departments of Public Works, bypassing state DOT bureaucracy.
I will co-sponsor and push for passage of the Municipal Pothole Relief Act, which creates a $5 billion annual federal program distributing highway repair funds directly to cities and towns based on road mileage, condition ratings, and traffic volume. No state-level gatekeeping. No conditions requiring multimodal components.Massachusetts municipalities that currently wait for Chapter 90 reimbursement will receive direct appropriations, allowing immediate procurement and repair.
Create a Federal Pothole Eradication Program that establishes a maintenance-first national standard.
I will introduce legislation requiring that before any jurisdiction receives federal funding for new transportation infrastructure, it must demonstrate that 100% of its roads rated "poor" or "fair" have either been resurfaced or brought to "good" condition within the past 7 years. This applies to all federal highway, transit, and discretionary grants. Repair existing infrastructure first. Build new infrastructure second.
Require every federally funded road project to reserve 15–20% of construction budgets for long-term maintenance and resurfacing cycles.
Currently, roads are built or repaired once, then abandoned until they fail catastrophically. I will amend the Surface Transportation Act to mandate that federal highway funds include mandatory set-asides for scheduled, predictable resurfacing every 15 years. This breaks the cycle of neglect and creates stable, long-term maintenance schedules that cities and towns can budget around.
Direct the Department of Transportation's Inspector General to conduct a comprehensive audit of transportation spending priorities and fund diversion.
I will request a formal IG investigation into how Massachusetts and other Northeast states have used federal infrastructure dollars, specifically examining: (1) whether state DOTs diverted road repair funds to transit projects; (2) whether Chapter 90 allocations have kept pace with documented road deterioration; (3) cost overruns and delays in multimodal projects vs. road repair projects; and (4) community benefit analysis comparing outcomes of road repair spending vs. new infrastructure spending in similar communities.
Establish a Rapid Repair Emergency Fund with $500 million annually for municipalities hit by major infrastructure damage.
When snowstorms, flooding, or extreme weather cause widespread pothole formation or road failure, cities and towns can apply for immediate federal reimbursement without waiting months for state approval. Funding covers full pothole patching, emergency resurfacing, and temporary repairs. Applications processed within 30 days. This is especially critical in the Northeast, where freeze-thaw cycles cause an estimated 60% more pothole damage annually than other regions.