Franklin Nabs Chunk of $5.54 Million in Baker-Polito Complete Streets Funding

Thursday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $5.54 million in awards to 16 communities as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Round 1 of grants for the Complete Streets Funding Program. These grant awards will be used by recipient municipalities to fund local multimodal infrastructure projects that improve travel for bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit users, and people using other forms of transportation. This is the thirteenth overall grant round for this program since the Administration launched the program in 2016.

Franklin received $89,700.00 to install rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the Southern New England Trunk Line Trail crossing and at the existing crosswalk on Lincoln Street, as well as add bicycle parking in several locations.

A “Complete Street,” according to promoters, is one that enables safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation. In practice, that often means squeezing bikelanes and walking areas out of existing road alignments.

 Administered by MassDOT, the Complete Streets Funding Program aims to teach communities about Complete Streets and encourage the integration of Complete Streets into regular local planning practices. Since the launch of the Complete Streets Funding Program in 2016, 252 municipalities have worked through the program to adopt a local Complete Streets policy and 222 have advanced even further to develop an approved Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. A representative from each municipality registered with the program also attends a training course to learn about Complete Streets.

“The Complete Streets Funding Program has now awarded over $83 million in total funding through 444 technical assistance and construction awards since 2016 to support municipalities in their ongoing efforts to improve their transportation infrastructure, build safe, convenient and easily accessible transportation networks and to facilitate economic development opportunities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This program continues to advance mobility and connectivity throughout the Commonwealth.”

“Complete Streets are for everyone and provide important opportunities for communities to achieve their unique needs and goals,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Programs like this support safe connectivity and increased economic activity throughout local neighborhoods and we look forward to seeing this progress in the future.”

“MassDOT is pleased to continue to work with municipal leaders to encourage the installation of infrastructure to help make for ‘Complete Streets’ everywhere,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. “We want everyone in every city and town in the Commonwealth to have sidewalks, crosswalks, and other features which make it easy and safe to get to where they want to go.”