MassDOT Grant Opportunities for the Safe Routes to School

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, announced the launch of the 2023-2024 Signs and Lines Program and Infrastructure Funding Program grant opportunities.

Both programs seek to provide funding though a competitive application process to help facilitate the development of construction projects in areas immediately surrounding public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Commonwealth.

The application period opened for both grant opportunities on Aug. 23. All SRTS partner schools, that have been a partner for at least six months as of Aug. 23, are encouraged to apply for both grants and must have a municipal contact as the primary applicant.

Signs and Lines Program

The SRTS Signs and Lines Program provides design services and up to $10,000 to support the purchase of materials. The funding for the program, which has been increased from $6,000 to $10,000 this year, will be awarded to up to five municipalities for low-cost construction infrastructure projects within half a mile around statewide public elementary, middle, and high schools. Eligible low-cost projects include signage and pavement markings to improve safety and accessibility along key walking and biking routes to a school. The projects are intended to be completed no later than June 30, 2024, and within the current school year.

Applications for the Signs and Lines Program are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, Sept. 22. The Signs and Lines Program Guidance Document and Application are available on the SRTS website under the Engineering section.

The SRTS Infrastructure Funding Program provides both design and construction services for projects between $300,000 and $2 million in areas immediately around public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Commonwealth. Eligible projects include transportation construction and capital improvement projects that will improve safety and/or increase the number of children walking, biking, and rolling to school and are located within two miles of a school serving children in any grades from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.

Applications for the Infrastructure Funding Program are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. The program allows municipalities to conveniently use MassDOT's Massachusetts Project Intake Tool (MaPIT) to submit information online at https://gis.massdot.state.ma.us/mapit/. MaPIT was developed to provide municipalities with more convenient access to transportation funding program opportunities available statewide. The Guidance Document and access to the MaPIT tool are both available on the SRTS website in the Engineering section.

This year, the MassDOT Safe Routes team is piloting a new technical assistance program for the Signs and Lines and Infrastructure Funding programs to accommodate and support the range of municipal staff capacities across the Commonwealth. Five communities will be selected to receive technical assistance from the following four available offerings:  project identification, general application support, relationship building, and cost estimates. The deadline for municipalities to apply for technical assistance is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Interested communities should email MassDOTSafeRoutesToSchool@dot.state.ma.us to receive details on how to submit a short email application for technical assistance.

MassDOT's SRTS Program, which is supported by funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to actively get to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments. The program currently serves more than 1,100 schools in more than 280 communities across the Commonwealth. Through these partnerships, the program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety. SRTS also provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives.

For questions related to the Signs and Lines Program or the SRTS Infrastructure Program, email SRTS@dot.state.ma.us or visit Safe Routes To School - Engineering | Mass.gov.

For more information on Massachusetts Safe Routes to School visit:

www.mass.gov/safe-routes-to-school

www.facebook.com/SafeRoutes.MA

www.twitter.com/SafeRoutes_MA

www.instagram.com/srts_ma

www.linkedin.com/company/ma-safe-routes-to-school

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.