Town poised to get more state funding for MBTA, roadway projects

State lawmakers have authorized $500,000 for a study to design improvements to Lincoln’s MBTA station and commuter lot, as well as another $321,500 for roadway improvements in another grant.

The larger chunk of money is part of a capital bond bill signed into law in June. The town is in the process of requesting release of the funds through a letter to the Baker administration explaining the need for and benefits of the MBTA project and how the cost estimate was generated. An environmental bond bill, which would funnel $321,500 to Lincoln, was approved by the state Senate on July 30 and is now before the governor for approval. Lincoln’s allotment in both bills was proposed by State Sen. Michael Barrett.

The South Lincoln Implementation and Planning Committee‘s MBTA team has recommended a list of improvements around the MBTA stops including:

• Explore the feasibility of locating the eastbound and westbound access on the same side of Lincoln Road, preferably the Lincoln Station side (west)
• Redesign the walkway and ramp access to the train to make it ADA compliant
• Provide an elevated platform to accommodate people with disabilities, the elderly, riders with bicycles, families with strollers, riders with luggage, etc.
• Provide pedestrian shelters with seating
• Provide additional bike parking
• Improve signage at boarding and unloading points
• Move the MBTA maintenance shed on Lincoln Road due to its location at the gateway entrance to Lincoln’s village center, or make landscaping improvements to beautify the gateway.

To further enhance commuter services, the SLPIC MBTA team is also recommending that the town make the following improvements to its own adjacent parking facilities:

• Improve the parking pay method with a pay kiosk that accepts credit cards and/or a pay by phone system
• Provide electric vehicle parking and charge stations
• Improve wayfinding signage for parking

Complete Streets

The $321,500 in the environmental bond bill would provide Complete Streets program funding for:

• Roadside path repair ($115,000)
• Study and construction of intersection improvements ($111,000)
• New sidewalk construction ($13,000)
• Accessibility, informational, wayfinding, and safety improvements at Lincoln Station ($82,500)

This will be the second Complete Streets grant for Lincoln. In 2017, the town received $400,000 for a set of projects including roadside path repairs, safety improvements at the intersection of Route 117 and Lincoln Road, and sidewalk construction on Lincoln Road just west of the Ryan Estate condominiums. All of those projects are due to be competed by September 30.