The following announcement was provided by the Healey-Driscoll Administration:
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined US Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, Congressman Seth Moulton and Mayor Jared Nicholson of Lynn to celebrate that Massachusetts communities and two entities have won $25 million to improve roadway safety. The awards include $9.5 million for Lynn to implement low-cost street design changes to reduce the risk of crashes.
Watertown received $806,192 to conduct a Safe System Approach Educational Campaign, Citywide Speed Limit Study, and demonstration activities. The activities will include the deployment of traffic calming, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety treatments including near a nationally-prominent school for the blind and visually impaired.
The awards are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, which was established through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and includes approximately $5 billion in appropriated funds to be awarded over the next five years. Grants were made to 10 municipalities across the state, as well as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency (MBTA) and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC.)
“Improving roadway safety for drivers, bikers and pedestrians is critical for improving quality of life across our state. These grants will help our communities do the work that is most needed to keep residents and visitors alike safe on their streets,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I want to thank our partners in the Biden-Harris administration for granting these awards and congratulate the awardees for their hard work to secure these funds.”
“As a former Mayor, I know how critical these federal awards are to supporting our communities and making our residents safer,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are continuing to compete aggressively to bring more federal dollars home to advance these important initiatives. Thank you to our partners at USDOT for these awards and the continued support of Massachusetts transportation needs.”
“I am pleased to join Massachusetts leaders to celebrate that a dozen awardees including Lynn are receiving $25 million from the Biden-Harris Administration to make their streets safer for everyone,” said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “We are proud to have found a formula that works for a large Federal program that is helping solve a national safety problem by working at the local level, in partnership with local leaders and community members.”
“Making our streets safer for all users is a key part of our mission to deliver an equitable transportation network for the residents of Massachusetts,” said Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “We are grateful to members of our congressional delegation who helped secure this Safe Streets and Roads for All funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and we look forward to supporting municipalities as they advance safety improvements in their communities.”
“The Safe Streets for All program has been a key focus of the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office. We know that SS4A is invaluable to advancing our goals to make roads safer everyone while prioritizing community collaboration and have worked diligently to ensure that Massachusetts communities benefit from this program,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration, Secretary Buttigieg and all of our federal partners for these historic investments, and we look forward to seeing their impact across Massachusetts.”
“Lynn sits only ten miles from Boston, yet it has historically missed out on the same investments in high-quality transportation and infrastructure afforded to its regional neighbors,” said Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA-06). “I’m thrilled that Lynn, Peabody, and so many other deserving communities across Massachusetts will receive this federal funding — made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – to enhance road safety. I’m grateful for the continued partnership of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Senators Markey and Warren, leaders in Lynn and Peabody, the state delegation, and USDOT.”
“We are incredibly grateful to receive this funding from our partners in Washington,” said Mayor of Lynn Jared C. Nicholson. “This grant will allow us to perform critical improvements that will benefit all drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who use our roads.”
The SS4A program funding awards can be used to improve roadway safety by supporting communities in developing comprehensive safety action plans, conducting data analyses, and implementing projects and strategies that seek to significantly reduce or eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries. Additionally, awarded funding can also be used to support stakeholder engagement to ensure that all community members have a voice in developing plans, projects, and strategies.
See the other communities that received funding by clicking here.
This is great! The fact our city wide speed limit is still 30, when all of our neighbors have already lowered theirs to 25, is a major oversight. 5 mph might not sound like a lot, but it can be a major difference between a pedestrian or cyclist surviving a collision.
Of course we were also once again reminded of the importance of safe street design by the cyclist who very sadly passed away on Memorial Drive last week. As someone who bikes, drives, takes transit, and walks all around Watertown and our neighboring communities, I support safer streets for all users.