Tewksbury To Receive $400K In State Funding For 'Complete Streets'

TEWKSBURY, MA —The Town of Tewksbury announced last week that it will be receiving $400,000 in state funding to fill pedestrian network gaps between Fiske Street and Andover Street.

The funding is part of the Complete Streets Funding Program awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) on behalf of the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt Gov. Karyn Polito.

Sixteen communities received a total of $5.54 million in funds as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Round 1 of grants, according to officials.

The Complete Streets Funding Program awards grants to help municipalities fund infrastructure projects that improve travel for bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit users and people using other forms of transportation, officials said.

The program launched in 2016 and has awarded over $83 million in total funding through 444 technical assistance and construction grants, according to the Baker-Polito administration.

"The Complete Streets Funding Program (has supported) municipalities in their ongoing efforts to improve their transportation infrastructure, build safe, convenient and easily accessible transportation networks and to facilitate economic development opportunities," Baker said.

Baker added: "This program continues to advance mobility and connectivity throughout the Commonwealth."

According to the Tewksbury website, the town previously received $400,000 in Complete Streets Funding Program dollars for the East Street and Chandler Street Intersection Improvement Project, which was completed in 2020.

The project included the addition of a bus bay, ADA-compliant crosswalks, improved sidewalks extending from the intersection and new traffic and pedestrian signals, town officials said.

According to the Complete Streets Funding Program guidelines, municipalities may apply for up to $400,000 in construction project funding in one application.

"MassDOT is pleased to continue to work with municipal leaders to encourage the installation of infrastructure to help make for 'Complete Streets' everywhere," said Jamey Tesler, MassDot's secretary and CEO. "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."

Officials also said that 60 percent of the dollars awarded through the program will fund projects in environmental justice communities. In Massachusetts, environmental justice communities meet one or more of these criteria:

• Median household income is equal to or less than 65 percent of the statewide median
• 25 percent or more of the residents identify as a race other than white
• 25 percent or more households have no person over the age of 14 who speaks English only or very well.

"Complete Streets are truly for everyone and provide important opportunities for communities to achieve their unique needs and goals," Polito said. "Programs like this support safe connectivity and increased economic activity throughout local neighborhoods."