Gov. Healey proposes $8B for infrastructure, stabilizing MBTA finances

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey yesterday announced a plan to invest $8 billion in the state’s transportation infrastructure and immediately stabilize the finances of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

The investments would be done without raising taxes and would represent the largest state transportation investment in more than 20 years by maximizing Fair Share revenue and other existing resources, according to a press release issued by the governor's office.

The plan will be filed as legislation in the coming weeks as part of the governor’s fiscal-year 2026 budget proposal and an accompanying supplemental budget. It puts into action many of the recommendations made by the Transportation Funding Task Force, which delivered its final report to the governor outlining multiple steps for stabilizing and enhancing transportation while setting the stage for ongoing discussion about how best to finance future investments in transportation.

“We’re going to invest billions of dollars to deliver better roads, less traffic, safer bridges and a transit system that works in every region. We’ll close the MBTA’s budget gap, improving service and upgrading stations, and we’ll move forward on regional projects like West-East Rail," Healey said in a press release.

The West-East Rail is a proposed passenger-rail project that would provide new service between Boston and western Massachusetts.

Healey's proposed investment would more than double support for the MBTA's operating budget to $687 million in FY26 and immediately address the agency’s budget shortfall. Among the MBTA improvements called for in the governor's proposals is $1.4 billion for new commuter-rail coaches, Red and Orange Line cars, station accessibility and resilience, track improvements and power system resiliency.