SAUGUS — The town has applied for a Shared Streets and Spaces grant intended to go toward revitalization efforts in Cliftondale Square.
Cliftondale Revitalization Committee Chair Joe Vecchione said the potential funding would go a long way toward keeping the square afloat as pandemic aid from the state winds down.
“It could be a pretty big boost for Cliftondale Square if we get this grant,” he said. “It’s a lot of money, and it’s money that at least Saugus taxpayers will see in action and not reflected on their tax bills.”
Based on the Shared Streets and Spaces municipal grant program launched by the state last summer, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced earlier this year that the program’s newest phase will operate similarly to previous versions by supporting municipalities and transit authorities as they improve plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, parking areas and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility and renewed commerce.
“Essentially, there are a bunch of things you can use it for,” Vecchione said of the grant. “It can be used for traffic-calming measures, temporary re-alignment of streets to test out traffic patterns, or you can use it for accessibility improvements, expansion of outdoor dining, and public amenities.
“It’s really about testing out things and testing out some alternatives to what’s currently there. Obviously in Cliftondale, one thing the square currently suffers from is that it’s incredibly pedestrian-unfriendly, so this grant has the opportunity to mitigate a lot of that while bringing foot traffic to the area.”
According to Mass.gov, in light of recent increases in speeding-related crashes and fatalities, the new phase of the program also places an emphasis on safety, and will go to fund projects that improve safety for all road users through interventions meant to achieve safer driving and pedestrian conditions.
In April, Saugus was awarded $50,000 from the state to install flashing crosswalk signs in the community’s high-traffic areas, including in Cliftondale Square — which saw multiple pedestrian accidents in 2021 alone.
“Safety is definitely a problem, and I advocated (Representative Donald Wong, Representative Jessica Giannino, and State Senator Brendan Crighton) for two of those signs to go in Cliftondale to help mitigate that issue,” Vecchione said.
Municipalities approved for Shared Streets and Spaces grant funding will receive between $5,000 and $500,000 from the Commonwealth.
“There are very few restaurants in the square, but food trucks or even temporary exhibitions could potentially come in,” Vecchione said. “It can be a communal space. If we can even get that on a temporary basis with the possibility of it being successful, it could become a catalyst for Cliftondale.”
Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected].
