Stoneham Gets $379,084 From State For Street Improvements

Stoneham will receive $379,084 for improvements to town streets, part of an announcement Friday by the Baker-Polito Administration’s Department of Transportation totaling approximately $6.4 million to 22 communities through the Complete Streets Funding Program. These awards will be used to fund local, multimodal infrastructure projects that improve accessibility for bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit users, and people using other forms of transportation.

Stoneham's share will go to safety improvements to the Pleasant and Williams Street and Pleasant and Spring Street intersections. Additionally, pedestrian safety improvements will be made to Central Street, and a bicycle rack will be installed at the town common.

"This popular program is just one of the many ways our administration is partnering with cities and towns to improve their own roadways to increase access to economic opportunities and connectivity throughout local neighborhoods,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to announce this latest round of award winners to help ensure that local roads and transportation infrastructure provide accommodations for all modes of travel.”

A “Complete Street” is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes and for all people, taking into account the ages and abilities of individuals. The Baker-Polito Administration has now awarded a total of approximately $30 million in construction funding since creating a funding program for Complete Streets in February 2016.

The Complete Streets Funding Program was launched on February 1, 2016. To date, 161 municipalities have approved policies and 111 have approved Prioritization Plans. 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.