May 5, 2021 by Carol Britton Meyer
"Complete Streets" provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes -- walking, biking, transit, and vehicles -- for all users, regardless of age, ability, or transportation mode.
Town Engineer J.R. Frey presented a draft "Complete Streets" policy to the Selectmen last night that would -- once approved by the board and submitted to the state -- provide grant opportunities for Hingham for various projects.
The Selectmen overall support the creation of such a policy, pending another review of the draft document at their May 18 meeting.
"Complete Streets principles contribute toward the safety, health, economic viability, and quality of life in a community by providing accessible and efficient connections between home, school, work, recreation, and retail destinations by improving the pedestrian and vehicular environments throughout a community [such as Hingham]," Frey told the board Tuesday night during a remote meeting.
Submitting such a policy to the state would provide potential opportunities for Hingham to qualify for assistance under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Complete Streets Funding Program. Complete Streets improvement proposals that are funded by the state are expected to fit within the character of a community.
A technical grant to assist the town in creating a Complete Streets projects priority plan would be available immediately, with assistance from a consultant through a public process.
Complete Streets communities may be awarded up to $400,000 a year for projects that in Hingham's case could include: completion of a harborside biking and walking path; sidewalk (including along the New Bridge Street corridor) crosswalk, and other safety improvements; and enhanced pedestrian connections between the Station Street parking lot, the harbor, and downtown Hingham.
In addition to the public, the Traffic Committee will weigh in on all proposals, and Selectmen approval would be required before a particular project could move forward with Complete Street funding in place.
Cliff Road resident William Buonagurio, who participated in earlier Traffic Committee meetings during which the Compete Streets program was discussed, praised Frey for his efforts.
He noted that 258 Massachusetts communities already participate in this program -- "including every single town around us -- and that "given some of the traffic accidents that have occurred in town, I think this is a really valuable opportunity for Hingham."