BOSTON, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Franklin Regional Council of Governments has been awarded a $487,200 grant from the state for crossing safety treatments in the centers of Greenfield and Deerfield.

The grant was administered by the Department of Transportation as part of their $13.5 million grant cycle for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

From the Department of Transportation:

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is announcing that Massachusetts has been awarded 14 grants totaling $13,534,965 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program to develop safety plans and conduct demonstration activities addressing pressing safety issues across the Commonwealth. The 14 recipients included municipalities, counties, regional planning and government organizations, as well as the MBTA. 

“Safety on our roads, sidewalks and public transportation is so important,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our cities and towns do incredible work every day to keep people safe, and this funding will help them build on those efforts. Congratulations to MassDOT, the T and every community and organization that is being awarded funding.” 

“This funding is an important step forward in our commitment to safer transportation across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll. “Developing strong safety plans and testing innovative approaches allow us to meet communities where they are and address their unique needs. These resources will help ensure that safety improvements are thoughtful, data-driven and focused on the people who rely on our transportation system every day.” 

“At MassDOT and the MBTA, safety will always be our top priority.  I wish to thank USDOT and our federal partners for these grants that will help communities and agencies across Massachusetts turn invaluable safety plans into meaningful action. These critical investments will help municipalities deliver improvements that reduce serious injuries and fatalities ,” said Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng “We are grateful for the support of our federal delegation and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their continued commitment to our transportation network and look forward to working with all communities across the state to advance a safer and more resilient transportation system statewide.” 

The SS4A program is designed to improve roadway safety by investing in strategies that will reduce serious injuries and fatalities among pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and truck drivers. Grant recipients are selected through a collaborative process that brings together experts from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). 

The awarded projects and federal grant dollars in Massachusetts are:  

• Barnstable County: Awarded $476,800 for “Planning and Demonstration Activities in Barnstable County.”
• Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization: Awarded $5,000,000 for “Safety Forward: Accelerating Road Safety Innovation in the Boston Region.”
• City of Leominster: Awarded $328,000 for “City Of Leominster Vision Zero and SS4A Safety Action Plan.”
• City of Newton: Awarded $144,000 for “Waban Village Center Multimodal Improvements Demonstration”.
• Franklin Regional Council of Governments: Awarded $487,200 for “Demonstrating Crossing Safety Treatments in Town Centers in Greenfield and Deerfield, Massachusetts.”
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority: Awarded $2,234,325 for “Mobileye Shield+ Collision Avoidance Demonstration Project Phase 2.”
• Merrimack Valley Planning Commission: Awarded $896,640 for “Advancing Vision Zero: Route 28 and Community Safety Planning.”
• Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District: Awarded $2,400,000 for “Municipal Planning and Demonstration Subgrant Partnership.”
• Town of Braintree: Awarded $192,000 for “Town of Braintree Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.”
• Town of Brookline: Awarded $540,000 for “Planning and Demonstration Activities in Town of Brookline.”
• Town of Dedham: Awarded $300,000 for “Planning and Demonstration Activities in Town of Dedham.”
• Town of Freetown: Awarded $96,000 for “Improving Roadway Safety on Chase Road, Gurney Road, and Braley Road.”
• Town of Leicester: Awarded $280,000 for “Leicester Safety Action Plan and High-Injury Network Intersection Demonstration.”
• Town of Ware: Awarded $160,000 for “Planning and Demonstration Activities in Town of Ware.”

To learn more about all SS4A awards, please visit U.S. DOT’s program website.  

A summary of current and past SS4A projects in Massachusetts, including resources to support municipalities aiming to access this funding in the future, is forthcoming on the Office of Transportation’s Municipal Planning and Support website.