Sherborn Receives Complete Streets Award

Boston – Representative David Linsky (D-Natick) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced $8.45 million has been awarded to Sherborn and 23 other communities as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Round Two grants for the Complete Streets Funding. 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 twelfth overall grant round for this program.

A “Complete Street” is one that enables safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation. 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 its launch in 2016, 240 municipalities have worked through the program to adopt a local Complete Streets policy and 214 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.

“Complete Streets is an important funding program that helps Massachusetts communities improve upon their transportation networks to ensure accessibility for all residents,” said Representative Linsky. “I want to thank MassDOT for awarding Sherborn with this grant that will directly improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in the community.”

Sherborn received $160,886.78 to construct a sidewalk along the south side of Sanger Street connecting to the existing parking area at Sanger Street/South Main Street, build a 15-foot path to connect to South Main Street, and add additional pedestrian safety improvements such as crosswalk striping, curb ramps, as well as adjusting an existing pedestrian peninsula.

Approximately 40 percent of the total award dollars will fund projects located in environmental justice communities. Environmental justice communities are determined using U.S. Census data and are defined by the Commonwealth as communities in which the 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, or 25 percent or more of households have no one over the age of 14 who speaks English only or very well.

Municipalities may apply for up to $400,000 in construction project funding in one application. Examples of project elements that can be implemented through the program include sidewalks, multimodal paths, bicycle lanes, improved street lighting, and pedestrian signalization at crosswalks or intersections.

For more information about the Complete Streets Funding Program, visit www.masscompletestreets.com.