Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program

Earlier this month, MassDOT announced a new program called the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program. This program is available to all municipalities and provides us a chance to quickly implement or expand improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, on and off street parking spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed economic support in your community. Grants are being awarded for projects between $5,000 and $300,000, and they are looking for projects that are considered quick-launch and quick-build. Applications for the project will be accepted on a rolling basis between June 22nd and September 29th and should be fully implemented by October 9th.

Eligible projects include those that support the increased rates of walking and/or biking, contribute to safe and functional environments for curbside or sidewalk retail, dining, and civic programming, better facilities for bus transportation, and creating safer routes and spaces for children and parents around schools. These projects can look like expanded sidewalks, traffic calming, protected bike lanes, accessibility upgrades, repurposing parking areas for outdoor dining, bus stop improvements, delineated areas for safe child drop-off and pickup, and so much more. Further details on eligible projects can be found on the program’s website.

Do you have any ideas for a small project in Princeton that might be applicable? Some of the projects that MassDOT highlighted were bike and jogging lanes carved out of a road using removable barriers and sections of a road partitioned off for dining. Send your thoughts to selectmen@town.princeton.ma.us or Sherry Patch at townadministrator@town.princeton.ma.us.