AASHTO Journal - MassDOT Issues $1M for Local Transportation Planning

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, through its Office of Transportation Planning, recently issued $1 million in grants to local communities via the inaugural round of technical assistance awards from its new Local Early and Actionable Planning or LEAP program.

[Above photo by MassDOT]

The LEAP Program, unveiled in July 2025, is designed to help municipalities – particularly rural and underserved communities – initiate transportation projects by providing early-stage planning and design support.

Gov. Healey. Photo by the Massachusetts Governor’s Office.

“The LEAP Program is a critical investment in the future of our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey (D) in a statement.

“When municipalities get the assistance they need early on, they can plan for more efficient and effective projects that improve our roads and bridges, reduce congestion and improve quality of life,” she added. “We are committed to supporting these communities as they work to restore, repair and enhance key transportation projects while advancing local priorities across the state.”

The program’s funding is included in the governor’s fiscal year 2026 Capital Investment Plan and administered as part of MassDOT’s capital budget.

Governor Healey also recently proposed a four-year $1.2 billion plan to provide elevated funding of $300 million per year for critical local transportation and infrastructure projects in every city and town across Massachusetts – a plan that includes launching a “first-of-its-kind” municipal bridge repair program for the state as well.

That overall funding proposal would preserve the 50 percent increase in “Chapter 90” funding for local projects that the governor established in 2025.

Concurrently, the governor launched the Funding for Accelerated Infrastructure Repair or FAIR program that will help municipalities work through their backlog of municipal bridges in need of repair; supported by leveraging “Fair Share” revenue to expand borrowing capacity.

Overseen by MassDOT, the FAIR program will seek to reopen closed bridges, remove postings on restricted bridges, and preserve additional bridges from falling into either category.

MassDOT said it is currently advancing and evaluating projects in Franklin, Hampden, Berkshire, and Hampshire counties in Western Massachusetts, with additional locations across the state to follow.