As prices for materials, equipment, labor and shipping continue to increase due to unprecedented inflation in the United States as well as various supply chain crises, both nonresidential and residential construction timelines continue to lengthen. In general, a universal truth when analyzing a labor shortage: productivity declines when the labor supply is tight. In short, projects are more expensive and taking way longer than they should to complete.
Baker approved all of the bond authorizations in the nearly $11.4 billion bill (H 5151) he signed Wednesday, including $400 million for immediate safety improvements at the T and $275 million as a down payment toward a western Massachusetts passenger rail expansion, and several of the outside sections packed into the major legislation.