Overview
The Local Bottleneck Reduction Program launched in 2021 and is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). This program seeks to fund innovative solutions to address congestion bottlenecks on local roadways to improve traffic flow. Locations for improvement are proposed by municipalities, separately, jointly, or in collaboration with Regional Transit Authorities. Applications are considered by MassDOT for funding through a competitive application process. If selected, a MassDOT-led consultant works with the municipality to develop a scope of work and design for the bottleneck using program funds. No funds are provided to the municipality for design.
The implementation of approved projects is conducted by awarded municipalities through a grant. Grant funds for construction are reimbursement-based, meaning the municipality requests reimbursement for costs incurred. The maximum grant funding to be provided to a municipality for construction costs in a single fiscal year is $500,000. Municipalities are responsible for any additional costs beyond the awarded amount. Design work completed by MassDOT consultants does not count against the funding limit.
The Local Bottleneck Reduction Program may fund improvements at individual intersections or small corridors with multiple intersections that contribute to travel delay. The program focus is to address delays that are created from poor traffic signal timing, outdated equipment, lack of adequate vehicle detection, or geometric deficiencies. In addition to improving traffic flow and congestion, Local Bottleneck Reduction Program projects seek to improve safety for all roadway users. Visit the Federal Highway website to learn more about local bottlenecks.
Fiscal Year 2025 Program Deadlines
| Application Round opens | Application Deadline | Award Notification |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | TBD |
Application details
The Local Bottleneck Reduction Program offers one application round per fiscal year. The application is submitted through the Massachusetts Project Intake Tool, also known as MaPIT. Applicants must first register for a GeoDOT account in order to enter the MaPIT system. If you already have a GeoDOT account with access to MaPIT, you may continue to use those credentials to submit an application. Request a GeoDOT account online. Be sure to select MaPIT access under "Application Access." Creating a GeoDOT account takes about three to five business days.
Step-by-step instructions for using MaPIT to submit a Local Bottleneck Reduction Program application can be found on the How to Apply page. Details on the Fiscal Year 2025 application round will be announced in Spring 2024.
Eligibility
Every municipality in the Commonwealth is eligible to apply for bottleneck improvements at intersections during each annual application round. A single application may propose improvements at one or multiple intersections in the same corridor or impact area. Only roadways and intersections owned and operated entirely by municipalities may be considered. Applications may only be submitted by municipal officials.
Applications may be submitted jointly by multiple municipalities to address a bottleneck that encompasses more than one jurisdiction. A municipality may also apply jointly with a Regional Transit Authority to address transit related bottleneck conditions. Municipalities that submit a joint application, or collaborate with a Regional Transit Agency, must select one municipality to be the lead applicant. A municipality, in collaboration with other municipalities or a Regional Transit Agency, may submit up to two applications in a grant round, however, a municipality may only receive one award per fiscal year.
Applicants may propose a specific treatment or project type at a given location but are not required to already know the appropriate improvements to make. In other words, an application may simply propose a location for funding if it can be improved via an eligible project type, without a specific scope of work or design plan. If selected for funding, a MassDOT-led consultant will develop a project scope within the parameters of the program based on information provided in the application as well as additional coordination with the awardee(s). Design is conducted with program funds at no cost to the municipality.
Similarly, municipalities do not need to provide a cost estimate on the application as the scoping and design process will inform costs for selected projects. The maximum funding to be provided to a municipality in a single fiscal year is $500,000. However, the maximum award is not guaranteed and will vary based on the scope of work determined necessary to improve the bottleneck location. Municipalities are responsible for any additional costs beyond the awarded amount. Design costs do not count against the funding limit.
Eligible project types include:
- Signal equipment improvements such as:
- Coordination of multiple traffic signals
- Pedestrian or bicyclist signal improvements
- Traffic signal retiming
- Traffic signal controller and cabinet upgrades
- Traffic Signal Priority equipment (with endorsement from transit agency)
- Vehicle detection installation, repairs, or replacement
- Infrastructure/reconstruction projects such as:
- Access management at an intersection to reduce vehicular conflicts
- Auxiliary lanes or acceleration lanes where right-of-way is available
- Changing or adding signage to provide improved directional navigation to motorists
- Curb modifications to modify intersection geometry
- Dedicated bus-only or bus/bike-only lanes where transit/bicycle demand warrants
- Innovative at-grade intersection reconfigurations to improve traffic flow
- New or improved transit stop access
- Pedestrian crossing improvements such as curb extensions or refuge islands
- Restriping of traffic lanes to address poor lane balance including addition of dedicated bicycle lanes
- Turn and/or through lanes where right-of-way is available
Ineligible project types and costs include:
- Costs related to public notice, public engagement, or easements and other land takings
- Police Details related to any construction activities
- Projects that will inhibit or remove pedestrian or bicycle facilities
- Roadway changes that negatively impact transit services
- Roadway widening/lane configuration changes where right-of-way is not available
- Traffic Control related to construction activities
MassDOT will work with selected communities (and Regional Transit Authorities, as appropriate) to develop a project scope appropriate for each individual bottleneck. Projects may only be implemented within the municipality's right-of-way. Improvements on private property are not eligible. Municipalities are responsible for ensuring ownership of all land where work is proposed as well as obtaining any permits or other local permissions required to conduct the work. Municipalities are solely responsible for the procurement and cost of any traffic control or police detail.
Selection criteria
Applications are assessed based on several criteria. The primary evaluation factors are existing congestion and delay metrics at the intersection or corridor. Most recent available data for the location will be used. Data from 2020 will be excluded from consideration to avoid altered traffic patterns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Intersections that demonstrate higher delay and more congestion will rank higher in the application pool. Data will be collected from INRIX for this analysis. Municipalities do not need to provide their own congestion or delay data on the application.
In addition to delay and congestion, project locations where congestion has been shown to spill back and have negative impacts to the state highway system operations will rank higher in the application pool. Finally, additional consideration is given to locations that meet any of the following criteria:
- Are located within an Environmental Justice Community
- Are located within one mile of a school
- Are located on a fixed transit route (applicable for municipalities applying jointly with a Regional Transit Agency)
- Are classified as 'rural' or 'partially rural' based on the Urban Boundary 2010 map on GeoDOT
Based on the above criteria, the most competitive locations will be selected to advance to scoping and design. MassDOT will onboard several traffic and engineering design consultants to work with municipalities to develop a solution to their unique bottleneck each year. This work may require a site visit to assess conditions of the project/study area more fully and determine a spectrum of improvements. This may require coordination with the municipality to provide access to signal boxes and/or related equipment and information.
In cases where a selected municipality has applied for specific intersection improvements, modifications to the proposed project may be required as a result of any site visit, scoping, or design activities. If initial scoping or design work determines that the bottleneck location cannot be improved through any eligible project elements, the project will not be considered further for funding.
Project implementation
After an application is selected, awarded municipalities are assigned to a MassDOT-led design consultant. Each Fiscal Year, MassDOT onboards several consultant teams to conduct work through the Local Bottleneck Reduction Program. Consultants are assigned based on availability and familiarity with the project site and/or proposed improvements. MassDOT will attempt to accommodate requests for a specific consultant when possible. Design work is paid for with Local Bottleneck Reduction Program funding and does not count against a construction award. No funds are provided to the municipality for design. By providing a team of consultants to selected applicants, MassDOT seeks to simplify the implementation process for municipalities while ensuring quality and consistent work.
All scoping and design work will generally begin with a site visit to assess conditions of the project/study area more fully and determine a spectrum of improvements. This may require coordination with the municipality to provide access to signal boxes and/or related equipment and information. All preliminary scopes of work are reviewed and approved by MassDOT. MassDOT will determine whether the proposed project elements are likely to meaningfully improve the bottleneck conditions, are within the scope of the program, and are likely to be accomplished within the maximum grant allowance. Projects may exceed the maximum grant limit, but these costs are the responsibility of the municipality. In these cases, the municipality must demonstrate availability of funds in order to proceed with an award.
Construction funding is not guaranteed until MassDOT has approved the scope of work and/or design. If a project scope or design indicates construction costs to be above the $500,000 grant limit, the scope of work may be reduced, a local match may be required, or the project may be removed from funding consideration. The maximum award is not guaranteed and will vary based on the scope of work determined necessary to improve the bottleneck location.
In cases where only signal equipment updates are proposed, and no civil design work is necessary, MassDOT may formally approve the project for funding without design. For larger scale projects, design work may proceed with the consultant after MassDOT approval of the preliminary scope of work. The consultant, in coordination with MassDOT and the municipality, will bring the project full Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E). Projects may only be implemented within the municipality’s right-of-way. Improvements on private property are not eligible. Municipalities are responsible for ensuring ownership of all land where work is proposed. After all design work is complete, MassDOT may formally approve the project for construction funding.
All municipalities approved for Local Bottleneck Reduction Program funding must enter into a contractual agreement for the construction funding award with MassDOT before work begins or any costs are incurred. No work may proceed until MassDOT has issued a Notice to Proceed. The funding agreement with MassDOT includes a deadline for the completion of the work. Generally, one to one-and-a-half years is provided for implementation. Work completed after contract expiration may not be eligible for funding. Municipalities must request a contract extension in advance of contract expiration as noted in the funding agreement, if necessary.
Awarded municipalities are wholly responsible for the implementation of their approved project, including but not limited to preparing bid documents, purchasing materials, hiring contractors or vendors, inspecting final work products, and requesting reimbursement from MassDOT for approved expenses. All costs above the awarded amount are to be borne by the municipality. The municipality is also responsible for obtaining any permits or local permissions required to conduct the work as well as any traffic control or police detail. All applicable state and local procurement laws must be followed.
Requesting Reimbursement
This is a reimbursement-based funding program, meaning that approved costs are reimbursed after expenses are incurred. Municipalities can request reimbursement at any time during project implementation. Some municipalities request reimbursements at various milestones throughout a project, while others prefer to wait until the end of a project to submit one single request. Reimbursements are processed by the State Aid Engineer assigned to the municipality’s MassDOT District, similar to the Chapter 90 Program.
When requesting reimbursement for program expenses, there are various forms that must be completed and submitted to the State Aid Engineer via mail, fax, or email. Municipalities must submit the following and required supporting documentation via email to their District State Aid Engineer after expenses are incurred.
- Reimbursement Request
Collects basic project information, as well as how much money was approved, how much has been spent to date, and how much is currently being requested for reimbursement. This form must be signed by the appropriate municipal staff. - Payroll (600) Form (if necessary)
Used to record personnel time. This form only needs to be used if the municipality is requesting reimbursement for municipal employee labor costs. - List of Materials (454 Form)
Detailed list of materials purchased for the project. This must accompany the reimbursement request.
When applicable, the municipality will also provide the Summary of Bids Form. In addition to these forms, municipalities will also need to submit invoices or receipts for the costs incurred as applicable. For this reason, it is very important to maintain organized records of work performed or materials purchased during project implementation.
Reporting requirements
MassDOT will monitor and assess conditions at the improved intersection following completion of the project in order to report on program success. Municipalities are also required to complete a short Final Report Form online after project implementation. This form is provided to awardees directly.