LYNNFIELD — The town will be receiving $50,000 for the purchase and installation of solar speed signs.
The allocation of funds comes as a part of the state budget announcement made last week. The legislature unanimously passed a $56 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, including funding for numerous local programs.
Lynnfield secured $130,000 from the budget and will be using the funds for three local projects. $50,000 will go toward a new war memorial project, $30,000 will be provided for athletic programs in the town’s public schools, and $50,000 will be used for solar speed signs.
State House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. and state Sen. Brendan Crighton worked to secure the funds for Lynnfield.
“The state budget supports several key local initiatives designed to honor our veterans, provide quality recreational facilities for the town’s students, and promote public safety on Lynnfield’s roadways,” Jones said in a press release. “I’m pleased that Sen. Crighton and I were able to work collaboratively on the town’s behalf to successfully advocate for this critical funding assistance.”
Department of Public Works Director John Tomasz is currently working on the preliminary steps for the solar speed signs.
“I’m working with the police to identify the streets in town that need the signs,” Tomasz said. “Once we have identified the locations, it usually takes a couple of months from the time we order the signs to the time you get them delivered and then have them installed.”
The signs will be designed to increase awareness about speeding among motorists and make the roads safe for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, he added.
“We’re really going to try to slow people down and make them aware of what the speed limit is,” Tomasz said. “We have heard residents on some roads complain about how people are driving way too fast.”
Tomasz credited Town Administrator Rob Dolan for his effort in raising issues about the town with Jones.
“Rob Dolan is pretty much the one that initiates the whole process,” Tomasz said. “We tell Rob there’s a need for something and Rob’s the one who pushes with Brad Jones to get money for us.”
The solar speed signs are expected to be installed in the coming months.
