WORCESTER – The City of Worcester received a $200,000 Shared Streets & Spaces program grant to install LED lights for three bridge underpasses at Green Street, Franklin Street, and Madison Street in the city’s Canal District.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation award is one of 184 announced earlier this week by the Baker-Polito Administration. They awarded nearly 140 municipalities and seven Regional Transit Authorities a combined $16.4 million through the Shared Streets & Spaces Program.
In April, the City unveiled 48 color changing LED light fixtures at the Green Street bridge underpass. That system was thanks to a previous $250,000 Shared Streets & Spaces grant.
The LED lights on the three bridge underpasses Worcester aim to serve as both a safety measure and a public art installation. Each light is 34 watts and are estimated to last over 100,000 hours. The Green Street underpass lighting changes colors and themes to commemorate holidays or other events.
Here are other municipalities in Worcester County to receive a grant:
- Auburn received $180,686.00 to install signage, speed enforcement equipment, and ADA-compliant crosswalk improvements.
- Boylston received $187,723.80 to construct new sidewalks at intersections along Route 140 and Sewall Street, ADA-compliant curb ramps, a new pedestrian island with warning signs, RRFBs, and lane and striping changes to improve safety on Route 40.
- Dudley received $176,894.15 to construct 0.25 miles of sidewalk on Airport Road as well as install four crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian crossing signage, white reflective paint to increase visibility, and bicycle lane delineators.
- Fitchburg received $199,646.64 to improve the sidewalks from Oak Hill Road to Reingold Elementary School to complement previous Safe Routes to School projects. Fitchburg also received $47,000.00 for speed feedback/messaging signs.
- Grafton received $50,000.00 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
- Harvard received $22,191.00 for speed feedback/messaging signs.
- Holden received $106,514.63 to construct new sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps to provide a safer route to Mountview Middle School.
- Leominster received $200,000.00 to create additional safe space for walking, biking, and downtown event activities by widening sidewalks, narrowing travel lanes, improving pedestrian crossings, and installing bicycle parking. Leominster also received $50,000.00 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
- Lunenburg received $6,708.00 for speed feedback/messaging signs.
- Millbury received $199,067.00 to improve safety, comfort, and connectivity for people bicycling and walking between the Blackstone River Bike Path trailhead and downtown Millbury Center with new sidewalks, RRFBs, pavement markings, wayfinding signage, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and a bike repair station. Millbury also received $30,905.00 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
- North Brookfield received $200,000.00 to install new sidewalks and widen existing sidewalks, and install decorative lighting, benches, and ADA-compliant curb ramps along North Main Street.
- Oxford received $198,000.00 to construct 1,000 feet of sidewalk along Church Street, from Main Street to Treasure Land Park and Playground, as well as to reduce intersection radii, narrow travel lanes, and enhance existing crosswalks.
- Paxton received $19,729.00 for speed feedback/messaging signs.
- Princeton received $48,221.00 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
- Shrewsbury received $6,770.00 for messaging signs.
- Uxbridge received $30,000.00 for speed feedback/messaging signs.
- West Brookfield received $149,640.00 to implement safety and accessibility improvements at the crosswalk at the West Brookfield Elementary School.
- Westborough received $32,490.00 for snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities and $30,792.00 for pedestrian safety elements.
Lead image: Green Street underpass/Patrick Sargent for ThisWeekinWorcester.com
