Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Progress of LEAP Program Supporting Local Transportation Projects

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today highlighted the progress of the Local Early and Actionable Planning (LEAP) program, which is helping cities and towns across Massachusetts advance local transportation projects that improve safety, accessibility and mobility. Since launching in 2025, the program has provided direct financial support for projects in 33 communities for planning pedestrian improvements, addressing traffic safety concerns, preparing to replace aging infrastructure and moving other local transportation priorities forward.

 LEAP provides $1 million annually in planning and engineering assistance, with a focus on rural communities, Gateway Cities and municipalities that may lack the staff or resources needed to advance transportation projects. Through direct support from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the program helps cities and towns turn local priorities into actionable plans and prepare to compete for additional state and federal funding.

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to supporting our municipal partners who keep our communities running. Cities and towns understand the transportation needs of their residents, and through this program we are offering technical resources to support communities to advance a project from an idea to an actionable plan,” said Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “Through LEAP, MassDOT is working directly with our municipal partners to provide the engineering, analysis, and planning support needed to advance projects that will improve safety, accessibility, and quality of life. These early investments can also position communities to compete for larger state and federal funding opportunities.” 

“Effective transportation investments begin with strong planning and reliable data informed by a clear understanding of the improvements that will best serve a community’s needs,” said Undersecretary of Transportation Policy Samantha Silverberg. “LEAP gives municipalities access to specialized expertise that can be difficult to fund during the earliest stages of a project. By helping to develop concepts, evaluate alternatives, estimate costs, and identify potential funding paths, we are helping communities to be more competitive in the grant process.”

In Berkley, LEAP is supporting plans to improve pedestrian safety around the Town Common after local students identified the need for safer walking connections on their way to school. The project includes conceptual design and cost estimates for a three-quarter-mile walking path, with proposed high-visibility crosswalks and lighting.

In Everett, the program is helping the city develop a Citywide Traffic Calming Prioritization Plan, a public-facing dashboard and a toolkit to identify and prioritize local streets for future safety improvements. The project will give city leaders additional tools to evaluate traffic concerns and plan improvements that address the needs of residents.

Other examples of how communities use LEAP assistance are below:

• Deerfield - Developing a plan to assess and prioritize aging culverts and stormwater infrastructure, helping the town prepare for future replacement projects and funding opportunities.
• Dunstable - Advancing design work for safety and accessibility improvements at the Main Street and Oak Street intersection, identified as a local priority.
• Northfield - Supporting design work to replace approximately 1,000 feet of sidewalk on Parker Avenue and prepare the town to seek construction funding.
• West Bridgewater - Evaluating improvements to challenging intersections along Lincoln Street, South Elm Street, West Street and Crescent Street to improve traffic safety and mobility.
• Royalston -Developing an initial concept and cost estimate for a potential bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the Millers River and identifying future funding opportunities.

Unlike traditional grant programs that provide funding directly to municipalities, LEAP connects cities and towns with MassDOT staff and engineering consultants who provide planning and technical assistance. Services include traffic and safety studies, preliminary engineering, conceptual designs, feasibility analyses, cost estimates and support for state and federal grant applications.

The program is funded through MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan and is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's broader efforts to strengthen transportation infrastructure and support local communities. By providing assistance during the earliest stages of project development, LEAP helps municipalities address barriers that can delay important improvements and positions communities to pursue the funding needed to bring projects to construction.

More information is available by visiting the LEAP Program Website. 

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