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Date: 1/9/2024
CHICOPEE — The city of Chicopee will soon see several roadway improvements with the assistance of grants.
In December 2023, it was announced that Chicopee was granted $647,893 of the $100 million in Fair Share Amendment funding distributed to the commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns to support local infrastructure. In 2022, Massachusetts voters approved the new 4% additional surtax on income above $1 million. That money was to be set aside for transportation and education.
The first $50 million is being distributed by using the Chapter 90 formula based on local road mileage, population and employment. The other $50 million is being distributed using a formula based on each municipality’s share of road mileage. The apportionment is automatically incorporated into a municipalities’ existing Chapter 90 contract with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Mayor John Vieau shared that the city is looking at expanding its street resurfacing program and this funding will “help tremendously with that.”
He noted that about half a dozen streets are being considered. At press time, he said it is in design and the city is looking at expanding the current Chapter 90 resurfacing program.
“We want to maintain our streets,” Vieau said. “We’re hopeful we can do resurfacing versus reconstruction,” as reconstruction costs a lot more.
“We’re excited about getting [the funding],” Vieau shared.
In mid-December 2023, Chicopee also received federal money for roadway safety — the Safe Streets for All grant — which the City Council will be asked to vote to accept at its next meeting on Jan. 16.
Vieau explained that the Safe Streets for All grant is in the amount of $320,000, with a match of $8,000 from the city.
“That will give us the opportunity to plan,” Vieau said. “It’s no secret there’s been a rise in incidences and traffic related fatalities and we’re going to be developing an action plan, so the city needs to use the data from these funds to further improve its public safety.”
He continued, “We want automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians to be able to safely coexist on our roadways. That’s the ultimate goal and we’re [going to] continue to work toward that with every project that we do.”
In 2023, the city spent about $500,000 in construction on what Vieau refers to as the “initial phase” of the safety improvement project. In total, it will be around $700,000, which includes looking at three main concerns: Chicopee Street, Broadway Street and Moreau Drive.
Chicopee Street was addressed with improved crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons and street diets at three or four locations on the north end where the street was 50 feet wide to allow for refuge islands in the middle.
Vieau said the city received a $50,000 earmark from local delegation in the last budget for rectangular rapid flashing beacons to help offset those expenses.
“We’re going to continue to make our roadways safer,” he said.
He went on to say that the city also received a $60,000 grant for enforcement, which is another part of roadway safety.
In November 2023, the city accepted the 2024 municipal road safety program grant for $60,000. The grant will allow for additional patrols focusing on road safety and traffic, pedestrian and bicycle training courses and safety programs.
“There’s a lot going on for 2024 and I’m excited about it,” Vieau said.
He shared that there is some new staff in the Engineering Department that has been working on designing projects for the upcoming construction season.
“We’re doing everything we can to try to maintain our infrastructure, our roads and our streets and sidewalks, and focus on making our [streets] safer,” Vieau added.