Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, elected officials, and local leaders in Quincy to announce awards totaling nearly $3 million to eleven communities through the Complete Streets Funding Program.
These awards will be used to fund local, multimodal infrastructure projects that improve accessibility for bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit users, and people using other forms of transportation. In doing so, the Complete Streets program helps communities become more Age-Friendly (Complete Streets are highlighted in the AARP “Roadmap to Livability” Resource on Transportation).
“The Complete Streets program enables local leaders to invest in projects that will have the greatest impact in their communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This round of Complete Streets funding awards will support eleven municipalities as they improve their infrastructure for a variety of transportation options, including walking, riding a bicycle and public transportation.”
“Our administration is pleased to continue providing funding through the Complete Streets Funding Program to support local transportation priorities,” said Lieutenant Governor Polito. “We congratulate each of the communities receiving grants today and look forward to seeing the completion of these multimodal projects.”
A “Complete Street” is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes and for all people, taking into account the ages and abilities of individuals. The Baker-Polito Administration has now awarded a total of approximately $33 million in construction funding since creating a funding program for Complete Streets in February 2016.
“Under the leadership of Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito, we are empowering our municipal partners to strengthen transportation networks across the Commonwealth and add new options for pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, and drivers,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “Complete Streets are important because multimodal street designs ensure that people can reach the places they need to go in a safe and reliable manner regardless of what mode of transportation they utilize.”
“Each of these eleven communities will receive funds to carry out construction projects within their communities and improve multimodal infrastructure,” said Highway Administrator Gulliver. “We congratulate the award winners and thank the MassDOT staff members and stakeholders who are helping to administer and manage this popular funding program.”
The Complete Streets Funding Program was launched by the Baker-Polito Administration on February 1, 2016. To date, 187 municipalities have approved policies and 136 have approved Prioritization Plans. Examples of projects that can be addressed through the program include filling bicycle and pedestrian network gaps, improving transit access, installing street lighting, improving safety of crosswalks and intersections, and building new shared use paths.
The Baker-Polito Administration is continuing to invest in transportation infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth. Over the 5-year period which began July 1, 2018, MassDOT expects to spend over $7.6 billion on roadway and bridge construction projects. This includes support for the Municipal Small Bridge and Complete Streets Funding Programs, two local funding programs created by the Baker-Polito Administration.
Today’s announcement regarding the Complete Streets Program provides funding to the following communities:
Brookline will receive $234,968 for town-wide multimodal safety improvements, including the installation of pedestrian signals, new ADA compliant curb ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, high visibility crosswalks, bicycle lanes, and bicycle boxes at the intersections of Babcock Street and Harvard Street and Beacon Street at Harvard Street. These additions will increase safety for people walking and biking. Curb extensions and ADA compliant curb ramps will be constructed at the Longwood Avenue at Harvard Street intersection, as well as tightening curb radii to create safer and shorter crossings for people walking and reduce vehicle turning speeds. ADA compliant curb ramps, pedestrian signals, and crosswalks will be installed at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Harvard Street, Vernon Street at Harvard Street and Washington Street at Greensborough Street which will allow people walking to be more visible to drivers.
Carlisle will receive $250,000 for pedestrian improvements at multiple locations, including the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and crosswalks at 142 Bedford Road and the driveway for the public athletic fields at the Banta-Davis land. Additional pedestrian improvements include the construction of ADA compliant ramps with new roadway curbing at all crosswalks around the Route 26/Lowell Street roundabout, new crosswalks, restriping existing crosswalks, and realigning the roundabout approaches to slow vehicle speeds. A five-foot-wide sidewalk with roadway curbing will be installed on the north side of Bedford Road from the Route 225/Lowell Street roundabout to East Street to fill an existing sidewalk network gap and give pedestrians safer access to the Town Center.
Great Barrington will receive $222,077 for a sidewalk extension on Housatonic Main Street. This project will fill a pedestrian network gap by extending the sidewalk along the south side of Main Street in Housatonic from the current end of sidewalk at 1045 Main Street to the future Housy Rail Trail near the intersection of Route 41 and North Plain Road. Seven new ADA compliant curb ramps will be installed along the length of the new sidewalk. The new ramps will create a new mid-block crossing on Main St., and new crossings at South St. and Oak Ave to increase pedestrian safety. Construction of the new sidewalk segment along this important corridor for residents will create a safe pedestrian connection to two open space and recreation areas in this neighborhood.
Harvard will receive $370,000 for improvements on Massachusetts Ave/Ayer Road including sidewalk reconstruction and filling sidewalk gaps at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue/Still River Road/Old Littleton Road/Ayer Road on both sides of each intersecting roadway and along the west side of Ayer Road north of the intersection for approximately 400 feet, and along the north side of Still River Road west of the intersection for approximately 200 feet. In addition, ADA compliant ramps, new curbing, and restriping crosswalk will be installed to promote safety, accessibility and connectivity within the heavily-traveled Town Center.
Leicester will receive $335,748 for multimodal improvements to the Town Commons, such as constructing a shared use path, bike lanes, sidewalks, and raised crosswalks in and around the Town Commons area that provide connections to Town Hall, First Congregational Church, Becker College, and the Public Library. The shared use path will be constructed on the northbound side of Paxton Street to provide a safe and comfortable option for walking and biking. In addition, the existing crosswalks and curb ramps at Paxton Street/Winslow Avenue will be reconstructed for ADA compliance and improved visibility. Washburn Square improvements include construction of raised crosswalks at the northern end of the Commons to the Town Hall building, at the southeast corner of the Commons across Main Street, and east of the Commons at the Becker College entrance. Bicycle lanes will also be installed around the Washburn Square loop to promote multimodal travel in the highly utilized area.
Merrimac will receive $141,100 for safety improvements on Locust Street/Union Street Ext. The project will reconstruct the intersection of Locust Street/Union Street Ext. /Middle Street adjacent to the Helen R Donaghue School. It includes the installation of new sidewalks, curbing, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, ADA compliant curb ramps and two painted crossings to improve pedestrian safety. This intersection serves members of the community including parents and students walking to and from the adjacent Helen R Donaghue School, residents of the neighborhood, a Housing Authority multi-family development which specializes in serving the elderly residents, and a day care facility.
Montague will receive $311,360 for town-wide pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Crosswalks, ADA compliant curb ramps and curb extensions will be installed on Main Street. Transit improvements will be installed at the at the Franklin Regional Transit Authority’s bus stop at the Millers Falls Road/Unity Street/High Street intersection including a crosswalk, sidewalks, bike racks, and a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon. At the First Street/Avenue A intersection, work will include sidewalk improvements and a sidewalk extension along First Street to connect Avenue A to the Canalside Bike Path and the Unity Park riverfront. A separated bike lane will be added on Avenue A from 7th Street to 11th Street to help establish a corridor for people biking to connect to the two most populated areas in Franklin County: Turners Falls and Greenfield.
Quincy will receive $306,969 for multimodal transportation improvements. Pedestrian improvements include the addition of ADA compliant signals and curb ramps at the McGrath Highway and Southern Artery intersection and the reconfiguration of the crossing of the channelized right-turn lane on to McGrath Highway and Southern Artery. In addition, the sidewalk on the north side of Coddington Street, west of the intersection with Southern Artery, will be reconstructed with ADA compliant curb ramps. Bicycle improvements include the addition of separated bicycle lanes or bike lanes in both directions along the entire length of Quarry Street, on Granite Street from Walter Hannon Parkway to School Street, and along Coddington Street between Faxon Avenue and Sea Street. This project helps develop a network of on-street bicycle accommodations within the City of Quincy particularly in the southwestern area of the city with connections towards the city center.
Rockport will receive $320,338 for pedestrian and bicycle improvements which will improve pedestrian and bicycle access to Rockport’s Back Beach. The Back Beach corridor improvements include the realignment of the Smith Street approach, reconstruct the existing sidewalks along the east side of Beach Street, restripe crosswalks, and upgrade ADA compliant ramps. A pedestrian gathering area will be constructed in front of the Beach Street public restrooms to provide a formalized pedestrian-friendly zone. Beach Street will be restriped to include a northbound bicycle lane. The Main Street/ Beach Street intersection will be improved by crosswalk restriping the construction of ADA compliant ramps, and curb extensions to reduce crossing distances.
Whately will receive $209,585 for town center improvements. This project will reconstruct sidewalks and construct new sections where there are gaps in the existing sidewalk infrastructure on both sides of Chestnut Plain Road from the Center School/cemetery to the Whately Town Hall. The project also includes the installation of crosswalks with ADA compliant curb ramps and pedestrian crossing warning signs at four locations across Chestnut Plain Road: at Center School/cemetery, at Whately Public Library, at Town Hall and at Congregational Church. Chestnut Plain Road is the main road through the town center in Whately and these improvements will promote safe multimodal access to many town center locations for people walking.
Williamsburg will receive $275,000 for pedestrian network improvements, including the construction of sidewalk along the east side of South Street from the current sidewalk terminus at #5 South Street to Eastern Avenue. South Street in an important corridor that connects residents to the Anne T. Dunphy School, the former Helen E. James School, and the Williamsburg Town Center. In addition, new sidewalk will also be constructed along the south side of East Main Street from the Boy Scout House (end of guardrail) to Valley View Road. This will fill an important network gap by connecting the existing sidewalk along the south side of Nash Hill Road to the existing sidewalk along the north side of East Main Street. ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps will be constructed at each newly restriped crosswalk to increase pedestrian safety and travel lane widths will be reduced along the bridge on East Main Street between Mill Street and Valley View Road.