Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Sidewalks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selectmen back CMRPC grant to replace North Main Street sidewalks; MassDOT municipal paving may run in parallel
Summary
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission presented a STRAT grant proposal to replace sidewalks and reset curbing along North Main Street; the board voted to authorize CMRPC to apply and signed a letter of support.
The Board of Selectmen on June 3 authorized the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission to apply for a STRAT grant to rehabilitate sidewalks and reset curbing on North Main Street, and voted to provide a letter of support for the application.
Jeff Holland, senior transportation and planning engineer at CMRPC, told the board the project would replace or reset curb and sidewalk from the end of the town’s Complete Streets work to Route 148, correct noncompliant crosswalk locations to meet state and federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidance, and tie into any curb ramps installed by MassDOT under the municipal paving program.
“We are submitting the grant tomorrow,” Holland said; he described close coordination with MassDOT and noted timing uncertainty — the STRAT grant award would not be known until November 2025 and construction would likely occur in 2026. Holland said the town and MassDOT are pursuing parallel work: MassDOT is expected to repave the state-numbered but municipally owned route under its municipal paving program and will install compliant curb ramps, while the STRAT grant would fund curb, sidewalk and granite curb replacement where needed.
The board voted, by voice, to authorize CMRPC to submit the grant application on the town’s behalf and approved a written letter of support that was read into the record and signed by Jason Betrayes.
Why it matters: the proposal affects pedestrian accessibility on a primary route that serves seniors, students and downtown businesses. If funded, the work would replace noncompliant features and connect sidewalks to newly installed ramps, improving ADA compliance and pedestrian continuity between the Complete Streets limits and Route 148.
Next steps: CMRPC will submit the STRAT grant application; if the town is awarded funds (award notification expected November 2025), construction would be scheduled in calendar year 2026, subject to final design, MassDOT coordination and contract procurement.
