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Holyoke accepts MassTrails planning grant to advance Main Street Complete Streets design
Summary
The committee accepted a MassTrails planning grant to advance design for a Complete Streets project on Main Street (Route 5 to Springdale Park); the Smart Growth fund will provide a $61,000 local match to advance the design to roughly 20% before seeking construction funding.
The Finance Committee voted Nov. 24 to accept MassTrails planning funds and a related city transfer to advance a Main Street Complete Streets design project.
City engineering staff described the grant as part of multi-stage planning for Main Street from Route 5 to Springdale Park. The MassTrails award (listed as approximately $239,000) will fund planning and preliminary design; city staff said the goal is to advance the project from roughly 10–15% design to about 20% so it can be included in future full funding applications to MassDOT.
Aaron, a DPW/engineering staff member, said the match for the grant will come from the city’s Smart Growth zoning fund—money generated when projects use the Lyman Terrace overlay rules—and that $61,000 was being appropriated by transfer to cover that match. He described the work as a Complete Streets project that could include bike lanes, improved sidewalks and lighting, raised crosswalks, and other safety and traffic‑calming features. Staff noted the planning work aims to eventually connect this segment with other Main Street initiatives to create a single, coordinated project over several years.
Mike Gallagher (DPW) confirmed the MassTrails grant is for planning and does not cover immediate replacement of a traffic light at an intersection near Springdale Park; he said engineering studies showed a traffic signal was not currently warranted but that DPW will follow up and had installed temporary measures to improve the intersection while longer-term planning proceeds.
The committee accepted the MassTrails grant and approved the transfer of Smart Growth funds to match the planning award.
