City of Salem Receives $400,000 Complete Streets Grant

Mayor Kim Driscoll today announced that the City of Salem has received a $400,000 complete streets grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. This is the second complete streets grant that the City has received since adopting its nationally recognized complete streets policy in 2014.

This funding will be applied toward the completion of the reconstruction of Essex Street, from North Street to Washington Street, inclusive of the Town House Square intersection. The roughly $2 million project – one of 28 accessibility projects in the FY2020 capital plan – includes an entirely new road surface, new and, in places, wider sidewalks with safer and more accessible pedestrian crossing facilities, and new lights, street trees, and benches. The design was developed through a community stakeholder process, incorporating input from businesses and residents along the roadway, as well as feedback from the Traffic and Parking Commission, Bicycling Advisory Committee, and others.

With funding now in place, the City Engineering Department plans to bid the contract for the project in February, with the goal of the selected contractor commencing construction in mid-April.

“This $400,000 grant represents the final component of the funding necessary for this project to move from design to construction,” said Mayor Driscoll. “This project maintains our commitment to streets and sidewalks that serve and are fully accessible to all of our residents, businesses, and visitors by all modes of transportation. I’m grateful to the Baker Administration and our legislators for making this funding available and to the City staff who worked diligently to apply for this major grant award.”

Click here to listen to an audio version of this announcement.