Thank you to MassDOT for choosing Fitchburg to host your Complete Streets awards ceremony this Tuesday morning at the Fitchburg State University IdeaLAB!
Many many awards given---with Fitchburg receiving $399.6k grant for largely funding Main Street/Boulder Drive One way Each Direction main Street project, and $78k to improve Electric Ave for walking and biking including our mid-block crossing access to Coggshall park that council approved recently!
Mayor DiNatale and Senator Dean A. Tran accepted our award with MassDOT Highway Admin Jonathan Gulliver, Lt Gov Karyn Polito, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack and Councilors Beauchemin, Walsh and myself attending. --- MassDOT's Highway Admin Jonathan Gulliver took a nice pic with my favorite ward 2 Councilor and I to celebrate =)
As a member of the MassDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board for the State I am aware of and have been learning so much about the need for safe multi-modal travel for not only our community equity and climate resilience but for our economic development into the future. Statistics are showing that people want to live, work and invest in a community that allows them to walk and bike safely for recreation, work and short trips-- Fitchburg with our diverse population is positioning our infrastructure to meet the needs now and into the future by embracing roads that are not only safe for cars...but for all people.
Here are the details of what this $399.6k Complete Streets grant and $125.9k of our CDBG/Chap90 monies is funding:
Main Street Corridor Improvements (Blossom/Cushing to Boulder Dr/Central St)
Install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon(s); Upgrade and Install Regulatory and Wayfinding Signage for Continuity, Install plastic flex posts to delineate the yellow painted median on Main Street at Cushing/Blossom, Install Bumpout/Curb Extensions to Reduce Pedestrian Crossing Distance and transition to bicycle lanes, Revise Crosswalk Configuration to increase side street pedestrian visibility,
Install Ladder Type Crosswalks, Install ADA/AAB compliant curb ramps with detectable warning panels, Sidewalk Repair
(Eliminate Obstructions and Repair Vertical Separation> 0.25 inches)
$86,449.53 CDBG, Ch. 90
$274,832 Complete StreetsBoulder at Putnam Parking Garage - Pedestrian Crossing Installation
Install Ladder Type Crosswalks, Install ADA/AAB compliant curb ramps with detectable warning panels, Minor Sidewalk repair, Install RRFB and Pedestrian Crossing Signage
$13,841.16 CDBG
$46,138 Complete StreetsElectric Avenue - Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements
Install Pedestrian Signage - Continuity throughout City; RRFB nstallation at midblock Bicycle & Pedestrian Crossing; Improve Mid-Block Crossing between Coggshall Park and
Coggshell Crossing; Revise Wayfinding Signage to indicate transition from multi use path to shared road for bikes; Upgrade sidewalk between end of multi use path and park entrance; Provide Pedestrian Connectivity to Coggshall Park-ADA/AAB compliant curb ramps with detectable warning panels
$25,668.28 Ch. 90 funds
$78,894 Complete Streets funds
