The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has received a combined $3.5 million in grants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA).
MassDOT
MassDOT has awarded the commonwealth $3 million in funding for 12 Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) to support 18 projects that encourage alternative transportation options, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand mobility. Awards include funding to operate and publicize shuttles, promote biking, facilitate carpools and more.
The awards are the first round of awards through MassDOT’s TMA Grant Program, which launched this year. MassDOT notes a TMA is a non-profit, membership-based organization that focuses on improving transportation options and infrastructure within a specific region or community. TMAs are typically formed through collaboration between local businesses, government agencies and community stakeholders to address the unique transportation needs of their respective regions.
MassDOT says TMAs implement programs and initiatives aimed at promoting alternative transportation methods like carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking and public transit usage. They also provide transportation-related services, including shuttle programs, carpool matching services and commuter incentives, all geared towards reducing single-occupant driving.
“Massachusetts residents depend on transportation to get them where they need to go safely and on time. This program expands the number of options available to people so that they can choose the mode that is best for them,” said Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. “During Climate Week and every week, our administration is proud to be making progress in our efforts to lower emissions, meet our climate goals and improve transportation infrastructure across the state.”
“By promoting greener commutes, Transportation Management Associations spur economic activity while also protecting our environment,” said Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “We congratulate the recipients for their hard work on these projects, which will benefit commuters and businesses across the state while helping us meet our ambitious climate goals.”
The full list of winning projects can be found on MassDOT’s website.
T4MA
T4MA awarded $500,000 in grants to 13 projects, with a special focus on western Massachusetts communities. T4MA Impact Grants support community-driven initiatives that promote transportation access and social justice. By partnering with organizations and leaders from western Massachusetts to Greater Boston, T4MA notes the grants prioritize equitable transportation solutions. According to T4MA, more than 60 percent of funding is dedicated to projects outside Greater Boston, underscoring its commitment to improving access and equity in central and western Massachusetts.
“We’re focused on supporting and uplifting work that addresses decades of inequitable transportation policies that are adversely impacting low-income, working class, Black, Indigenous and communities of color,” said Reggie Ramos, executive director, T4MA. “Together, through these grants, we know our collective efforts can lead us to just and equitable transportation systems.”
“It’s wonderful that all regions of the commonwealth will reap the benefits of these resources,” said Andrea Freeman, public health institute of Western MA and T4MA board member. “The need is truly great, perhaps nowhere more so than in western Massachusetts.”
T4MA says grantees are leading essential work to strengthen and improve the state’s transportation systems and ensure that underserved communities are at the center of proposing and driving solutions on both the community and statewide level.
“Rural areas have been left out of transportation planning and investment and the Hilltowns are not immune from this national phenomenon,” said Hilltown Community Development Corporation Director of Community Programs Joan Griswold. “There are no alternatives to transportation in our rural communities and funding from T4MA will expand the service area of the two microtransit programs we have built to provide vital transportation services for our Hilltown residents.”
New England United for Justice is using its grant to power the squares and streets planning process in Boston “to build awareness and create space for the community to advocate for local changes at the intersection of housing, development and transit,” said New England United for Justice Executive Director Noemi Ramos. “We are also focused on rebuilding transit systems and development changes to Columbia Road in Dorchester.”
The full list of awardees can be found on T4MA’s website.
