Area legislators looked under the hood of Gov. Deval Patrick's five-year, $12 billion capital investment plan Monday, but are searching for the horsepower in the form of local projects and initiatives that would aid Attleboro area communities.

Patrick's five-year plan would rely on borrowing to finance a wide range of initiatives in education, public works, housing and public safety.

But at first glance, no local projects stood out other than $3.4 million to study a possible Attleboro route for the proposed Fall River/New Bedford commuter railroad line.

The capital program contained no projects specifically earmarked for local communities, although the package would include $3 million for courthouse construction and the demolition of a former armory building in Taunton.

However, the state has already assured Attleboro officials that $1.2 million would be available to repair a state-owned public swimming pool, and local communities stood to benefit from an $80 million increase in road and bridge repair funds and hikes in housing and library investment. "We just got it 20 minutes ago," said state Rep. John Lepper, R-North Attleboro, who like many lawmakers was at a disadvantage in attempting to analyze the capital plan. He said the full details may not emerge for some time.

Notably absent was any earmarked appropriation for renovations of a former Texas Instruments facility that is being converted to host classes for Bristol Community College along with Bridgewater State College. The building, which has already been purchased by BCC, needs about $3 million in renovations.

However, money could be elsewhere in the budget that includes an $81 million increase in capital investment for higher education.

State Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said she was more than anxious to determine how much money was in the package for local purposes, especially the Bishop Street bridge for which the town received $100,000 in preliminary funds last year. However, a like amount was vetoed by Patrick earlier this year.

"I'd definitely like to know more about how much money is in it, and for what," said Poirier, who has warned that Patrick will be unable to fund the large number of projects without raising taxes.

Meanwhile, Tim O'Neill, chief of staff for state Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, said the governor deserves praise for ratcheting up spending for transportation and public safety in light of deteriorating conditions on local roads and bridges.

Under the proposal, spending on transportation projects would increase 25 percent - to $1.2 billion. Of that amount, about half would go toward work on state roads and bridges.

The capital plan would also establish a new category of state assistance for cities and towns that would include a $30 million increase in Chapter 90 local road repair funds, a 25 percent increase in library construction and a 37 percent increase in funding for open space.

Patrick released his capital plan, which requires legislative approval, Monday, saying the package is indicative of his administration's aims of achieving a world-class educational system and creating 100,000 new jobs in four years.