The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has introduced a new initiative aimed at supporting transportation planning in rural and underserved communities. The Local Early and Actionable Planning (LEAP) Program, launched by MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning, is designed to assist municipal officials in initiating infrastructure projects. This program will provide planning and early-stage design assistance to towns and cities across the state, with a focus on economically disadvantaged areas that often face challenges due to limited funding and staffing.
A total of $1 million has been allocated for this initiative from Governor Healey’s Capital Investment Plan, which will be part of MassDOT’s capital budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “Our goal is to empower community leaders with the tools and support they need to bring priority projects to life,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. She emphasized that the LEAP Program aims to help local governments take initial steps towards securing resources for transportation projects that enhance safety and accessibility.
The LEAP Program allows municipal staff to request support for various early-stage planning activities, including conceptual design, alternatives analyses, safe streets network strategy design, federal grant application development, safety analysis, traffic analysis, speed studies, cost estimation, as well as visual and mapping support. The program is structured to help under-resourced communities access federal and state transportation funding programs.
Municipalities can expect approximately $25,000 to $100,000 per project from the available funds. Municipal leaders are encouraged to begin requesting support through an online form immediately. To facilitate understanding of the LEAP Program and its application process, MassDOT staff will hold public meetings throughout July, August, and September across the Commonwealth. Information about these meetings will be posted online when available.
For further details about the program or eligibility criteria, interested parties can visit the MassDOT Municipal Planning and Support website or contact Derek Krevat, Manager of Municipal Planning & Support.
Information from this article can be found here.
