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    1. Industry News

    State DOTs Increase Support for Local Transportation Projects

    Sept. 13, 2024
    The department's support covers shared street pathways, and roadway paving.
    American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
    Monica Tibbits-Nutt presenting funding at event. Photo by MassDOT.
    Monica Tibbits-Nutt presenting funding at event. Photo by MassDOT.

    By: American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

    Several state departments of transportation across the country recently provided funding for a range of local transportation projects, covering everything from pedestrian and bicycle pathways and shared street initiatives to roadway paving efforts.

    For example, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued $6.5 million to 28 municipalities and two Regional Transit Authorities as part of its “Shared Streets and Spaces” program.

    Massachusetts Department of Transportation
    The support covers bicycle and pedestrian pathways.
    The support covers bicycle and pedestrian pathways.

    The program provides funding to help cities and towns statewide design and implement projects to improve plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, parking areas and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and strengthened commerce.   

    “These grant awards will advance projects to help support safe travel for everyone, whether they are on foot, bike, transit, or in an automobile and strengthen our municipalities across the state,” noted Monica Tibbits-Nutt, MassDOT’s secretary and CEO, in a statement.

    Meanwhile, the Kansas Department of Transportation recently issued a combined $26 million to 33 projects to improve intersections and roads in cities statewide via its City Connecting Link Improvement Program or CCLIP.

    “By investing with our local partners in our infrastructure framework, we are delivering economic opportunities across rural and urban parts of the state,” said Kansas DOT Secretary Calvin Reed in a statement. “These projects will address problems, so Kansans have more local transportation choices.”

    Additionally, the Connecticut Department of Transportation recently awarded more than $12 million in grants to 17 towns and cities statewide for projects that will improve transportation accessibility and safety.

    “Our main streets and community centers serve as vital social, economic, and transportation hubs,” noted Governor Ned Lamont (D) in a statement. “Improving local infrastructure for all users in community centers is a win for our whole state and opens the door to further economic growth.”

    “From sidewalks and multi-use trails to ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant ramps, these 17 projects focus on providing safety enhancements and mobility options to schools, jobs, public transit, and local economic centers,” added Garrett Eucalitto, CTDOT’s commissioner.