ADAMS, Mass. — Adams and a number of other Berkshire and regional communities were among the 138 municipalities and seven Regional Transit Authorities awarded funding through the state's Shared Streets and Spaces Program.

 

This is the largest round of funding to date with $16.4 million being distributed and 138 awards with Adams receiving more than $240,000.

 

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito made the announcement on Tuesday in Plymouth with Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver and local officials.

 

"We've been proud to award a total of $50 million dollars in grant funding to cities and towns to facilitate 494 projects since launching Shared Streets and Spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic in June of 2020," said Polito. "We are pleased to partner with local leaders to create safer and more connected cities and towns."

 

Adams received the highest award with $190,314.00 to repair 11 pedestrian crosswalks along Columbia Street with new granite curbing and 22 Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, in addition to two rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, or RRFBs, north of Valley Street and Burt Street. The town also received $50,000 for snow-removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

 

North Adams received $32,659 for speed feedback/messaging signs for calming traffic. Mayor Jennifer Macksey had informed the City Council about the grant last month, saying it would be used on Main, Church and Eagle streets as well as in some other areas to address speeding concerns. 

 

"It includes everything — crossing signs to radar speed and message trailers, portable signs to calm and slow, that kind of stuff," she said.

 

Stockbridge received $132,994.95 to install raised and improved crosswalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps and Great Barrington, in partnership with the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, received $62,500 to upgrade bus stops with signage, more accessible curbs, new bus shelters, solar-powered lighting, and benches.

 

Alford received $33,462.86 for speed feedback/messaging signs and Otis received $46,417 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

 

The program provides technical assistance and project funding to help Massachusetts cities and towns design and implement changes to curbs, streets, and parking areas in support of public health, safe mobility, and community growth and revitalization. This round of funding placed particular emphasis on two new types of projects: those to reduce vehicle speeds in order to increase safety, and those to purchase equipment needed to improve and maintain infrastructure for active transportation. 

 

"Our Shared Streets and Spaces grant program is just one of the many municipal grant programs that has demonstrated what we can accomplish by working together with our partners at the local level," said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement. "Today's announcement represents the largest award round since the program was launched and we are glad to be funding projects that reduce vehicular speeds and provide safe mobility for children, for seniors, to public transportation, housing, and to open space and parks."

 

Tuesday's announcement represents the largest award round since the program was launched in June 2020. Of the awarded municipalities, 53 percent are designated Environmental Justice communities and a total of 31 percent have never received a Shared Streets and Spaces grant before.

 

The Shared Streets and Spaces program provides grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $500,000 for municipalities and transit authorities to make changes to their streets that allow for safer walking, biking, public transit, recreation, commerce, and civic activities. These improvements can be intentionally temporary or permanent. This grant round also offered municipalities a new opportunity to apply for grants for up to $50,000 to purchase equipment to support active transportation. 

 

Other awards in towns near the Berkshires included Charlemont, $44,332.96 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities and speed feedback/messaging signs; Chesterfield, $45,458 for speed feedback/messaging signs; Cummington, $31,802 fora crosswalk and new ADA-compliant curb ramps on Main Street and $19,729.00 for speed feedback/messaging signs; and Goshen received $45,558 for speed feedback/messaging signs.