
Lowell, Fitchburg and 136 other local municipalities will receive a total of $16.4 million through the state’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program, which will fund improvements to streets, curbs and parking areas in the interest of public health and safety.
The 184 awards, which the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday, specifically aim to slow down cars to improve street safety and make effective improvements to existing transportation infrastructure. The money will go to cities and towns, as well as seven regional transit authorities.
It is the program’s largest round of funding since it was launched in June 2020, and just over 30% of recipients have never received funding through the Shared Streets and Spaces program before.
Here are some of the local municipalities that received grants for construction projects this funding round:
Fitchburg was awarded $199,646.64 for sidewalk improvements from Reingold Elementary School to Oak Hill Road, following previous Safe Routes to School efforts.
In Leominster, its $200,000 in grant funding will narrow travel lanes, widen sidewalks, improve crosswalks and install bike parking in an effort to create a safe space for bikers, walkers and those participating in downtown events.
Methuen partnered with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority to install new bus stops with shelters, pedestrian signs and wayfinding, benches, crosswalks and curb extensions across a 0.6-mile portion of Lower Broadway with its $392,659.
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority received $180,000 for 12 bus stop shelters powered by solar. The authority partnered with Athol, Fitchburg and Gardner.
Pepperell will use $200,000 for rectangular rapid-flashing beacons with LED signs at the Nashua River Rail Trail crossing at Groton Street, expanded sidewalks on Main Street that will create room for benches, outdoor dining, planters and directional signage.
Tyngsboro received $134,722 to install an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway to bridge a residential neighborhood and the town’s commercial district, bus routes and beach. The town will also improve an intersection’s safety by realigning a roadway and will install a bus shelter and bike rack for users of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority Route 10.
Bedford, which was granted $42,350 for ADA-compliant curb ramps, as well as the installation of a crosswalk, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at pedestrian crossings and signage on North Street near the Bedford Farms Ice Cream, which is a high-traffic zone.
Concord received $197,663.75, which will go toward slowing car traffic at the Malden and Walden streets intersection utilizing signs, new sidewalk, “traffic calming” and improved pavement markings, according to a press release.
Additionally, a number of area cities and towns earned grants for the purchase of equipment, including the following:
Lowell earned $50,000 for traffic calming equipment, which includes speed humps and chicanes, or curves placed on top of roadways that aim to slow traffic.
Both Leominster and Littleton were awarded funding for snow removal equipment — Leominster with $50,000 and Littleton with $22,728.
Dracut received $26,000, which will pay for crossing signals and pedestrian-activated warning devices.
Five area communities received funding for speed feedback/messaging signs: Fitchburg, $47,000; Tewksbury, $23,548; Harvard $22,191; Ashby, $14,640; and Lunenburg, $6,708.
Ashburnham received $9,799 to buy snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Bedford, with $49,999, will purchase snow removal equipment and speed feedback/messaging signs.
“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 CEO Jamey Tesler. “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.”