North Reading To Receive 'Complete Streets' Money From State

North Reading was one of 22 Massachusetts communities awarded with money from the Complete Streets Funding Program. The town will receive almost $400.000 from the state.

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, members of the Legislature, and local officials announced the third round of awards through the Complete Streets Funding Program. A ceremony was held in Chelmsford to formally award a total of $7.8 million to 22 communities.

North Reading is receiving $384,140 to construct a new sidewalk on Haverhill Street from Foley Drive to North Street and put in place radar speed signs at Central Street, Lowell Road and Marblehead Street. These improvements will help connect pedestrians and travelers to numerous local attractions including businesses, local schools, town center, library, post office, police and fire stations, and senior housing.

“Our administration is proud to fund these important infrastructure improvements that make our communities safer for families and the traveling public,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Complete Streets program works with our local partners to provide critical investments and upgrades to local roads, trails, and sidewalks, making it easier and safer for those traveling by car, bike, foot or public transit to work, school and other activities.”

The Complete Streets Funding Program was launched on February 1, 2016. To date, 134 municipalities have approved policies and 84 have approved Prioritization Plans. The Complete Streets Funding Awards will be used to fund local, multi-modal infrastructure improvement projects, as identified in each municipality’s submitted Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. Examples of projects that can be addressed through the program include improved street lighting, radar speed signage, intersection signalization, new multimodal paths and new signals at crosswalks.