Chicopee and Springfield have each been awarded $60,000 to improve road safety within their communities.

On Oct. 17, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that 186 Massachusetts towns and cities will receive grant funds to back traffic safety enforcement and outreach programming.

More than $5.4 million was awarded through the fiscal year 2024 Municipal Road Safety Grant Program. The program is administered by the Office of Grants and Research and appropriates funds awarded by the National Highway Safety Administration.

The annual program administers funding to municipal police departments who propose traffic safety projects in their community. This includes high visibility enforcement patrols, equipment to enhance road safety like digital speed signs, pedestrian and bicyclist safety initiatives and public outreach campaigns designed to inform community members and youth about roadway safety.

In Chicopee, Public Information Officer Travis Odiorne shared that the funding will go toward the bike rodeo in the spring that provides helmets and bike lights to children, along with a bike inspection station and an obstacle course.

The funds will also be used for specialized patrols to focus on distracted driving, click it or ticket campaigns and impaired operators.

“These funds are crucial because it allows us to hire officers on overtime to assist with these enforcement campaigns,” Odiorne said. “We also plan to hold a pedestrian safety event next summer and light up wristbands as well as light up vests will be purchased with some of this money as well. Those items will in turn be given to the community free of charge.”

Springfield Police Department spokesperson Ryan Walsh shared that every few months, the Statehouse awards grant funding to police departments. The next grant, which covers Nov. 1-31, is for impaired driving. This includes operating under the influence with alcohol and drugs.

Walsh explained that this funding allows the Springfield police officers to perform overtime at no cost to the city as they work to keep the streets safe.

Essentially, it is designed to ensure that all pedestrians and drivers return home safely, Walsh shared.
He went on to say that although marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, it is not legal to smoke in public or in a car. If an individual is smoking while driving and gets pulled over, they can be arrested. Walsh said it is like drinking and driving with an open container.

Walsh thanked the state Legislature for working to ensure the money comes to the Springfield Police Department, as this round of funding is similar to what the department receives every year.

“Whether by vehicle, bicycle or foot, everyone has the right to travel safely through our communities,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Through this program, we were able to award grants to every community that requested funding. The education, enforcement and outreach initiatives supported through these grants will help ensure safer roads for all.”