How Massachusetts is Incentivizing Complete Streets

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In April, 2014 the Governor of Massachusetts signed the Transportation Bond Bill, which authorized $50 million dollars for the creation of Complete Streets policies.

Complete Streets are defined as streets that provide accommodations for users of all transportation modes including, but not limited to, walking, cycling public transportation, automobiles, and freight.

States and local governments across the nation have adopted new policies for Complete Streets; however, some have been slow to put these policies into practice.

In February 2016, Massachusetts (11.2% Latino) launched the Reimbursable Municipal Funding Program to incentivize Complete Streets projects across the state.

The reward for municipalities that chose to participate is:

• Funding for technical assistance to analyze their community needs and develop a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan,
• Funding for construction of Complete Streets infrastructure projects.

MassDOT seeks to ensure equity and that municipalities have a level playing field because complete streets are an important factor in quality of life, contributing to safety, health and economic viability by providing safer, more accessible, and more comfortable means of travel between home, school, work, supermarkets, and recreation.

Improving safe and affordable transportation options is particularly important in disadvantaged communities, which lack access to education and employment opportunities, as well as nutritious food and safe places to be physically active. Equitable access to safe transportation options can play a huge role in Latino’s physical and mental health.

YOU can play a huge role in supporting access to safe transportation options in your community by doing any one of the following actions:

• Google search your area Transportation Planning Organization and ask them to conduct a community needs assessment of your neighborhood.
• Watch the Complete Streets Massachusetts Webinar here or view the slides here.
• Share these resources with your city/state transportation and planning departments to use as a model to incentivize Complete Streets projects.
• Register on our site as a Salud Leader and connect with others interested in safe, active transportation options.
• Read stories about Salud Heroes that are improving walkability in their neighborhood.