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$16.4 million funding announced for transit-orientated development in Massachusetts

Posted: 5 August 2022 | | No comments yet

Provided as part of the Shared Streets and Spaces Program, the new funding will allow MassDOT to advance transit-orientated development in Massachusetts, with a key focus on improving active travel infrastructure.

$16.4 million funding announced for transit-orientated development in Massachusetts

Credit: MassDOT

The Massachusetts government’s Baker-Polito Administration has announced that 138 municipalities throughout the state have been awarded $16.4 million to support 184 transit projects through the Shared Streets and Spaces Program.  

The programme provides technical assistance and project funding to help Massachusetts cities and towns design and implement changes to kerbs, streets and parking areas in support of public health, safe mobility and community growth and revitalisation.

This round of funding has placed particular emphasis on two new types of projects: those to reduce vehicle speeds in order to increase safety, and those to purchase equipment needed to improve and maintain infrastructure for active transportation.

“Our Shared Streets and Spaces grant programme is just one of the many municipal grant programmes that has demonstrated what we can accomplish by working together with our partners at the local level,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s (2 August 2022) announcement represents the largest award round since the programme was launched and we are glad to be funding projects that reduce vehicular speeds and provide safe mobility for children, for seniors, to public transportation, housing and to open space and parks.”

TransLink invests $130 million in active travel infrastructure and projects

This grant round also offered municipalities a new opportunity to apply for grants for up to $50,000 to purchase equipment to support active transportation. Eligible items include things such as snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, speed feedback signs, pedestrian-activated warning devices such as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) and bicycle lane delineators.

“With speeding and speeding-related crashes becoming more and more prevalent as we emerge from the pandemic, safety and driving at appropriate speeds has never been so important,” said Transportation Secretary and MassDOT CEO Jamey Tesler. “MassDOT encourages municipalities to think strategically an implemented speed reduction measures to reduce crashes and the severity of injuries in crashes. Many of the projects funded in this grant round will make our streets safer for everyone, whether they are walking, bicycling, taking public transportation or driving.”

Of the awarded municipalities, 53 per cent are designated Environmental Justice communities. In addition, a total of 31 per cent of the recipients of this award have never received a Shared Streets and Spaces grant before.