State may dole out $1.1M for Swampscott improvements

SWAMPSCOTT – The town could receive more than $1 million from the state for improvements to Hump-hrey Street.The transportation bond bill, which is currently sitting on Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk, includes $1.1 million for Swampscott, according to State Rep. Lori Ehrlich.?It really is a public safety issue,” she said. “Humphrey Street is the most traveled street in town. There are so many potholes and ridges it resembles a lunar landscape. The transportation bond bill includes $750,000 to pave Humphrey Street from the Lynn line as far down Humphrey as we can go until the money runs out.”Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said he hopes the $750,000 would be enough to pave from the Lynn line down to the Fish House.Ehrlich said the transportation bond bill also includes $350,000 for streetscape improvements along Humphrey Street.?Kings Beach is the gateway to town,” she said. “It really looks rundown and needs a lot of work. The railings along the beach are bent and rusted. There is a noticeable contrast when crossing from Lynn into Swampscott. The Lynn side is maintained much better.”Ehrlich pointed out Kings Beach (in Lynn) and Lynn Shore Drive are maintained by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.?For consistency sake we need to get a start on the Swampscott side,” she said. “This money should help do that. Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) has been instrumental in this process and in advocating for Swampscott.”Ehrlich added once the Governor signs the transportation bond bill, money is not available until the bonds are actually issued, which could take anywhere from a year to three years.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said he hopes this would provide momentum for the revitalization of Humphrey Street.?It could take a couple of years for the money to come through,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to start making some of the improvements to the Humphrey Street area that we’ve been talking about for the six years I’ve been here.”The good news is the town will be receiving $150,000 in the Governor’s line-item budget, which is slated for streetscape improvements on Humphrey Street. Ehrlich said that money is available almost immediately.Maylor said streetscape projects often include sidewalks, trees, lighting fixtures and other improvements to the appearance of an area.Maylor said he is impressed with how much Ehrlich has accomplished during her time in office.?She (Ehrlich) is a freshman legislator who has only been in the state house for five months,” he said. “It’s really quite extraordinary that she has been able to bring all this about in five months.” She and Sen. Thomas McGee have both been real advocates for us.”Maylor said he also applied for a $1.2 million in federal funding for the Humphrey Street corridor, which looks promising. Maylor said the first step in getting the funding is to receive state approval and that hurdle has already been jumped.?It was put on the priority list,” he said. “It might take a couple of years but there is a good likelihood we will get the federal grant.”