The Department of Highways (MassHighway) is charged with planning, designing, building, maintaining, and operating a safe and efficient transportation system for the Commonwealth. The Department is responsible for 12,600 highway lane miles and 2,900 bridges. By fulfilling its mission, MassHighway strengthens the Massachusetts economy and promotes job creation.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1998, MassHighway will continue to provide the Commonwealth with a cost-effective transportation system by proceeding with privatization initiatives and using innovative technology, while maintaining its commitment to highway and driver safety. To achieve these goals, the Department will:

• invest over $1 billion in transportation projects;
• enhance administrative efficiency and integrity by developing a project management system, an inventory control system, and a payment system for snow and ice removal;
• develop a highway safety policy to reduce accidents related to driver fatigue; and
• contract with private and union vendors to provide highway maintenance services for the Department's fourteen maintenance areas.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended in Fiscal Year 1998 will enable the Department to provide the same level of services as in Fiscal Year 1997. The reductions in line items 6010-0001 and 6010-1000 reflect a savings of $750,000 realized from the privatization of maintenance functions.

The account structure for Fiscal Year 1998 consolidates fourteen line-items into three. This will enable MassHighway to better manage its resources and streamline the administration of the Department.

Fiscal Year 1998 Spending in Fiscal Year 1997 Account Structure

FY98 Account Structure			FY97 Account Structure
6010-0001	MassHighway Department Administration	47,864,065	6010-0001	47,822,153
			6020-2505	41,912
6010-1000	MassHighway Maintenance	25,048,336	6010-0001	10,225,069
			6010-1009	527,000
			6010-1010	350,000
			6010-1012	1,800,000
			6010-1013	2,000,000
			6010-1014	2,600,000
			6010-1015	1,000,880
			6010-1016	1,445,387
			6010-1017	2,300,000
			6010-1018	2,800,000
6030-7200	MassHighway Snow and Ice Control	12,061,971	6030-7201	6,727,688
			6030-7211	200,000
			6030-7221	5,134,283

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS ADMINISTRATION
6010-0001	For personnel services of the department of highways, for certain administrative and engineering expenses and equipment of the highways commission, the office of the highways commissioner, the division of administrative services, highway engineering, highway maintenance, highway construction, outdoor advertising, district and other highway activity offices, materials, supplies, fleet maintenance and equipment, general maintenance and equipment, for maintenance and operation of state highways and bridges, and for workers' compensation related expenditures; provided, that the department shall not pay any fees charged for leasing or maintenance of vehicles to the operational services division; provided further, that the department shall not be subject to the provisions of section thirty-six A of chapter thirty of the General Laws and section twenty-two of chapter seven of the General Laws, but shall submit to the secretary of transportation and construction for approval requests to repair vehicles costing in excess of the limit set forth in said section twenty-two of said chapter seven; provided further, that said secretary is hereby authorized to transfer funds between this item and item 6010-1000; and provided further, that said secretary shall notify the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means thirty days prior to any such transfer	47,864,065
	Highway Fund 100%

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PRIVATE CONTRACTS
6010-1000	For highway maintenance in areas 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5A, 5B, and 5C, for costs associated with police services within so-called contracted areas, and for overtime costs associated with so-called contracted areas; provided, that the secretary of transportation and construction is hereby authorized to transfer funds between this item and item 6010-0001; and provided further, that said secretary shall notify the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means thirty days prior to any such transfer	25,048,336
	Highway Fund 100%

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL
6030-7200	For the expenses of snow and ice control on state highways, including the cost of sand, salt, and other control chemicals, the cost of hired and leased equipment, and the cost of vehicle repair	12,061,971
	Highway Fund 100%

Intragovernmental Service Spending

BULK MOTOR FUEL INTRAGOVERNMENTAL CHARGEBACK
6030-7501	For the costs of the purchase of bulk fuel for certain vehicles under the authority of the operational services division and the costs of purchased fuel for other agencies, and for certain administrative expenses related to purchasing and distributing the fuel	1,000,000
	Intragovernmental Service Fund 100%