The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) recently awarded 15 communities $6.65 million in Complete Streets Funding Program grants through its 14th round of funding.
The program aims to encourage the integration of Complete Streets ‒ a street that enables safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for users of all ages and abilities, regardless of the mode of transportation ‒ into regular local planning practices.
Funding through the program is used for local multimodal infrastructure projects that improve travel. Project elements that can be implemented through the program include bicycle lanes, improved street lighting, multimodal paths, pedestrian signalization at crosswalks or intersections, and sidewalks.
Communities can apply for up to $500,000 in funding to implement a project, a $100,000 increase from prior rounds.
The largest grants awarded in this round were:
Eastham was awarded $500,000 for constructing a shared-use path along the northern side of Samoset Road to the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Nantucket was awarded $500,000 for installing new sidewalks on Williams Lane and Pleasant Avenue.
Quincy was awarded $500,000 to reconstruct the intersection at Granite Street and Whitwell Street.
Reading was awarded $500,000 to reconstruct sidewalks on Auburn Street between Highland Street and Parkview Road and on Parkview Road between Auburn Street and Oakland Road.