The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Office of Transportation Planning recently launched a new Local Early and Actionable Planning or “LEAP” program to help municipal officials jump start infrastructure projects.
[Above photo by MassDOT]
The agency said its LEAP program, which will offer $1 million in total funding initially, aims to provide planning and early-stage design assistance to towns and cities statewide – with a particular focus on rural and economically disadvantaged communities as these communities often face significant barriers when it comes to initiating transportation projects due to limited funding and staffing.
MassDOT said it anticipates providing municipalities with approximately $25,000 to $100,000 per project from the LEAP program.
The agency noted that its LEAP program is structured in a way that allows municipal staff to request the support they need for early-stage planning and design activities, including but not limited to conceptual design and alternatives analyses, such as hydraulic and geotechnical analysis; “Safe Streets” network strategy; design & engineering for smaller-scale projects, such as “Complete Streets” initiatives; federal grant application development; safety and traffic analysis; speed studies; cost estimation; plus visual and mapping support
“Our goal is to empower community leaders with the tools and support they need to bring priority projects to life,” said Monica Tibbits-Nutt, MassDOT secretary and CEO, in a statement.
“Through the LEAP program, we’re helping local governments take that critical first step – positioning them to secure the resources needed to advance transportation projects that make streets safer, more connected, and more accessible for everyone, whether they’re walking, biking, riding transit, or driving,” she added.
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