MMA webinar covers transportation grants

An MMA webinar today reviewed transportation grants and resources available to Massachusetts communities through the Department of Transportation and MassTrails.

Kristen Rebelo, MassDOT’s community grants administrator, began by introducing her agency’s Grant Central portal, which launched in April 2024.

She said the portal “was our effort to streamline the process of grant management and make it easier for communities to obtain and manage their MassDOT funds through the Highway Division.” Municipalities can access the following programs: Chapter 90, Complete Streets, Local Bottleneck Reduction, Municipal Pavement, Municipal Small Bridges, and Shared Streets and Spaces.

Rebelo also discussed MassDOT’s Safe Routes to School program, an initiative that organizes events to promote safe biking, walking, and rolling to schools.

Amanda Lewis, director of MassTrails at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, discussed MassTrails and its grant program application. She said MassTrails seeks projects that are equitable, accessible, efficient and safe.

MassTrails Grant Program Manager Eli Velluti-Fry gave examples of eligible grant projects, including trail assessments, the design and creation of trail maps or brochures, and the rental or purchase of trail construction and maintenance equipment.

More than 250 communities have received funding through the MassTrails grant program.

MMA Legislative Analyst Adrienne Núñez moderated 30 minutes of questions and answers, which addressed Complete Streets Program requirements, applications covering more than one of the main focus areas, and if applying for one grant excludes a community from applying to others.

 

• MassTrails presentation (3M PDF)
• MassDOT Highway Division Grant Central and Community Grants presentation (2M PDF)