Massachusetts industry executives were awaiting word at ENR press time on whether a state House and Senate conference committee could hash out differences over their respective versions of a five-year, $13-billion transportation bond bill. Both versions of the bill are similar, and Gov. Deval Patrick (D) has indicated his support. As a result, many expect it to pass and authorize capital spending on a host of long-awaited projects to improve heavily used roads, rails and other infrastructure.
Anthony Puntin, executive director of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, is optimistic about the bill's passage, but he also cautions that anything can happen. "Everybody assumes that it will be agreed on. But we don't know," he observes.