Weymouth awarded $386K Complete Streets grant for local infrastructure improvement projects

Weymouth, MA – Mayor Robert Hedlund announced today a $386,645 Complete Streets Funding Grant awarded to the Town of Weymouth for local infrastructure improvement projects to address safety, accessibility, and mobility needs throughout the community. Mayor Hedlund joined Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack, Highway Administrator Thomas Tinlin, and Senator Patrick O’Connor on January 26th for an announcement ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. A total of $5.5 million was awarded to 15 communities.

“I am pleased that Weymouth can partner with the Commonwealth to design and build road projects that address our transportation needs and promote safe and reliable travel,” said Mayor Hedlund. “Improvements to our local roadways need to support all modes of travel, not just driving. With this Complete Streets Grant, we are taking a big step in that direction.”

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. Research shows that building Complete Streets improves transportation conditions for all road users and contributes toward the health, safety, economic viability, and quality of life in a community.

Funding requirements for the MassDOT’s Complete Streets Program include attendance by municipalities at an initial program workshop, passage of a Complete Streets Policy that scores 80 or above out of a possible 100 points (Tier 1), and the development of a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan (Tier 2). Upon completion of these requirements, a. municipality is eligible for construction funds (Tier 3). The Complete Streets Funding Program was launched on February 1, 2016.  To date, 108 municipalities have approved policies and 27 have approved Prioritization Plans with the MassDOT.

Weymouth’s Complete Streets Policy was adopted by its Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeals in 2015. The policy was ranked the nation’s fourth best that year by Smart Growth America’s National Complete Streets Coalition, which evaluated all 82 Complete Streets policies passed throughout the country. Weymouth’s policy was approved by the MassDOT in February of 2016, and the Town received a $46,088 technical assistance award to develop its Prioritization Plan.

Weymouth’s Complete Street Funding Grant will support 12 local infrastructure projects that address comprehensive transportation needs throughout the community. The funding award will allow for new pedestrian accommodations and accessibility improvements at several major crossings and public schools. The projects will also improve transit access and bus shelters at several bus stops, install speed monitoring displays at several roadway segments, and install bicycle shelters at various locations throughout the town.

A more detailed description of all projects is provided below:

• Pedestrian signalization and ADA accessibility improvements at two major crosswalks: Commercial Street at Legion Field and Middle Street at Shaw’s Plaza.
• Pedestrian safety and ADA accessibility improvements at the Weymouth High School and four elementary schools: Academy Avenue School, Hamilton School, Murphy School, and Seach School.
• Transit access improvements and bus shelters at three MBTA bus stops: Pleasant Street at Main Street, Broad Street opposite Center Street, and Pleasant Street at Colonels Drive.
• Speed management through eleven solar-powered speed monitoring signs along nine roadway segments.
• Bicycle accommodations with bicycle shelters at or near the Weymouth High School, Weymouth Teen Center, and two MBTA Commuter Rail Stations: East Weymouth station and East Braintree/Weymouth Landing Station.