Complete Streets Program

As part of the on-going work with Halifax's participation in the Commonwealth's "Complete Streets" program, the Town is asking for ideas, suggestions, and recommendations about road improvements in Halifax through an interactive map available at:

https://wikimapping.com/Halifax.html?perm=3&[email protected]

Halifax is currently in "Tier 2" of the Complete Streets Program.

Information about the program is available at: https://masscompletestreets.com/

A "Complete Street" is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes - walking, biking, transit and vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities.

Information about the status and funding for other communities can be found at: https://masscompletestreets.com/Home/ParticipationReport

During this Tier 2 work, the Town reviews its Complete Street needs, safety or network gaps, and develops a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan that aligns with local and regional planning efforts. When a municipality completes Tier 1 and Tier 2 requirements, it is deemed a Complete Streets Eligible Municipality.

This work will result in a list of possible projects. The list will include at least 15 projects and potentially more. The list will be submitted to MassDOT by April 1, 2021.

The cost of the Tier 2 work is $38,000 funded via a reimbursable grant from the Commonwealth. A reimbursable grant is one for which the Commonwealth commits funds and signs a contract stating that it will reimburse a community for monies spent by the community. An example of a reimbursable grant is the State's "Chapter 90" program for which the Commonwealth commits a certain amount of money each year for each community for work on roads and similar projects. As part of the Chapter 90 program, the Town has to submit an application for a proposed project that will use Chapter 90 funds, get the application approved by MassDOT, spend money to do the actual work, and then receive a reimbursement from MassDOT.

All of the $38,000 is used for this planning process. None of it is used for engineering costs or for construction costs. The Town will be reimbursed, through this grant program, for the $38,000 that is expended.

The list will include the projected cost for engineering and survey work along with an estimated construction cost along with a project timeline. All engineering and surveying costs are the responsibility of the Town. However, the Town does not have to incur these costs unless a) MassDOT approves a project; and b) the Town signs a contract with MassDOT for construction funding for a particular project.

Engineering and surveying costs vary depending on the complexity of a project. A crosswalk will require less engineering than a sidewalk; the engineering costs of a sidewalk will likely be less than the engineering cost for a full-scale traffic light.

This list will be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for review and MassDOT will determine which projects are eligible to be funded and then the Town and MassDOT would enter into a contract for one or more projects. Projects are most likely to be funded if they have significant benefits to safety, if they are filling a network gap, and if they are at a high crash location.

Any contract will require a commitment by the Highway Surveyor to expend available funds for the engineering and surveying costs. The actual contract requires approval by the Board of Selectmen. The Town is not reimbursed for engineering and surveying costs, only construction costs.

The maximum grant the Town can receive for Fiscal Year 2021 for construction costs is $400,000. This amount can be for just one project or for several projects as long as the total amount requested from MassDOT is not greater than $400,000.

Once the Town has completed work on the projects funded through the first $400,000 grant, the Town can apply for a new grant which can be funded based on a schedule and priorities set by MassDOT.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Complete Streets Home Page

Complete Streets web site

Complete Streets Tier 2 Grant Contract with Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Complete Streets Funding Program Guidance

Complete Streets MassDOT Notice to Proceed

Town of Halifax - Complete Streets Need Assessment