(BOSTON) – House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D-Weymouth), Representative James M. Murphy (D-Weymouth), Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull), and Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) are pleased to announce Weymouth and Hingham are receiving funding from the Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Program. Weymouth will receive $75,550 and Hingham will receive $150,837. This program is funded through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
“I’m glad to help provide state funding that will help cities and towns adapt their streets to ensure safe and accessible transportation,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “I look forward to seeing these projects enhance quality of life for all road users in Weymouth.”
“I am thrilled the town of Weymouth is receiving this crucial funding to advance the safety and proficiency of our roads,” said Representative Murphy. “This money will decrease traffic, reduce environmental impacts and make Weymouth and Hingham a more navigable place for all residents.”
“This grant money is a welcome investment in walkability, economic viability, public health and safety, and environmental protection for our communities,” said Representative Meschino (D-Hull). “Residents will be able to enjoy the benefits of shared streets and shared spaces.”
“This round of funding will allow the Towns of Hingham and Weymouth to make their respective communities safer and more user-friendly,” said State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “It’s great to see that Hingham will use the funding for pedestrian crossing improvements around their schools, and that Weymouth will invest in bike lanes around Town.”
The Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Program allocates grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $500,000 for cities and towns to rapidly implement changes for safe walking, biking, public transit, recreation, commerce and civic activities in communities throughout the Commonwealth. These enhancements can be intentionally temporary or can be pilots of permanent changes. MassDOT is particularly concerned with projects that respond to the ongoing public health crisis and providing safe mobility for children, elders, public transportation, and to open space and parks.
Communities selected for this grant are ones that have goals to calm roadways, create safe connections to essential destinations and workplaces, generate safe walking and biking networks that reduce crowding, and produce safe routes to schools.
