On Wednesday, the City announced it had obtained a $3 million federal grant designated for complete design and construction of the Beacham Street reconfiguration project.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino and Planner Alex Train revealed the news, representing a significant achievement for the $9 million initiative aimed at reconfiguring Beacham Street as a vital east-west corridor connecting East Boston, Chelsea and Everett.
The reconfiguration would reshape the roadway to accommodate not just automobiles, but also bicycles and pedestrians, while incorporating landscaping enhancements and provisions for truck traffic that relies on the corridor. Everett is pursuing a comparable initiative on its portion of Beacham Street, with both projects expected to be coordinated upon completion.
Flood mitigation from the Island End River is another component of the project, as the waterway has historically overflowed and posed risks to the New England Produce Market, a regionally significant food distribution hub.
The federal grant will complement funding already allocated through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for this undertaking.
According to Ambrosino, the City will also seek additional funding from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) Transportation Improvement Fund once those resources become accessible.