Baker-Polito administration announces $3 million in Complete Streets Funding Program awards
Quincy — Lt. Gov.Karyn Polito joined Massachusetts Department of Transportation highway administrator Jonathan Gulliver, elected officials, and local leaders today to announce awards totaling nearly $3 million to 11 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.
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.
Today’s announcement regarding the Complete Streets program provides funding to the Berkshire community of Great Barrington, which will receive $222,077 for a sidewalk extension on the 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 St. to the future Housie Rail Trail near the intersection of Route 41 and North Plain Road. Seven new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps will be installed along the length of the new sidewalk. The new ramps will create a new midblock crossing on Main Street, and new crossings at South Street and Oak Avenue 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 the neighborhood.
