Bike lanes and walking paths are having a moment in Massachusetts, with an announcement by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) stating that a hefty 20 miles of shared-use paths were opened in 2023. This expansion is aimed at enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety while also promoting healthier and more economically vibrant communities. Projects include the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks, and crosswalks that are part of a broader initiative to invest in multimodal travel.
Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt heralded the work done by MassDOT, “I want to commend our dedicated teams at MassDOT for the progress they made over the course of 2023 to give our communities more miles of multimodal connectivity,” she said in a statement obtained by the Massachusetts Government website. With plans for an additional 25 miles of shared paths projected to open by the end of 2024.
Key projects that stood out in the past year include the Shining Tides Section of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail, the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail extension in Westfield, and the final phase of the Somerville Community Path. Peter Sutton, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator at MassDOT, emphasized the impact, saying, “When we expand and enhance our inventory of multimodal paths, we are not just removing barriers to biking and walking, but setting the foundations for healthier, safer, more prosperous communities,”
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program also came into the spotlight with five SRTS Signs and Lines grants awarded in 2023. This move is to bolster safe biking and walking for young students, and the program extends its reach to over 1,140 schools in 281 Massachusetts communities. Beyond infrastructure, it engages thousands of students with safety training and the development of walking and biking routes. Notably, the Shared Streets and Spaces Funding Program seems to keep growing too, with $50 million awarded to support 494 projects in 183 municipalities, designed to push for tactical urban changes to enhance public health, safe mobility, and commerce.
While the state continues to pave the way for multimodal infrastructure, it also distributed $15.95 million in awards to municipalities via its Complete Streets Funding Program last year to facilitate travel for all. Additionally, the Healey-Driscoll Administration rolling out $11 million in MassTrails Grants for various trail-related projects across the state.
