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North Brookfield board reviews Mass Muni paving work, STRAP and Complete Streets grants; town match and scheduling uncertain
Summary
Selectmen outlined a coordinated plan for Route 67 milling and local paving under the Mass Municipal Paving Program, reviewed a STRAP grant with a likely $160k–$170k town match under budgetary strain, and discussed Complete Streets and Shared Streets projects while exploring ways to reduce the town match.
The North Brookfield Board of Selectmen spent the bulk of its April 7 meeting reviewing awarded transportation funding, including the Mass Municipal Paving Program, the Small Town Road Improvements to Enhance Public Safety (STRAP) grant, Complete Streets funding and a Shared Streets & Spaces award.
Chair members said the Mass Municipal Paving Program crews will mill Route 67 from the New Braintree line through town and that milling and paving are scheduled at night. The board read a contractor recommendation from Dean Gleason of Mass Broken Stone that Smith Hanson Road should receive an overlay because of cracking on the road edge and that material should be added to road shoulders to prevent edge failure.
The board flagged the STRAP grant — described in the presentation as just under $1 million — as a potential funding source for sidewalks and ramps, but officials said the grant’s expected state match of about $160,000–$170,000 creates a challenge while the town faces a projected budget gap. ‘‘We still don't have dollars sitting,’’ the chair said, noting the town was more than $300,000 in the red in the current budget process. Officials said the Mass Muni Program has offered to take responsibility for installing sidewalks on a significant stretch of Route 148, which the board is asking the state to consider as a way to reduce the town match obligation; members expected more clarity from state officials within 24–48 hours.
The Complete Streets grant originally awarded $400,000 and later increased to $500,000. Board members said efforts to add an additional $100,000 of scope ran into cost increases when a contractor raised the sidewalk price by roughly $30,000 for work outside the contracted scope; the additional $100,000 remains in question as the town works with new engineering consultants. Separately, a $200,000 Shared Streets & Spaces grant will fund improvements at the School Street/North Main intersection; the manufacturing firm Vibram provided engineering support for that project.
Board members discussed coordinating Chapter 90 funds with the Mass Muni work to extend paving to Gilbert Street and other local stretches, noting cost-per-mile estimates vary by road width and condition. If all grants and contracts align, officials said residents could see significant paving and sidewalk work within the year.
No formal vote on grant acceptance or a change in scope occurred at the meeting; the board described next steps as coordinating with state program managers and engineering consultants and returning with contract details and timing.
