LYNN — The city of Lynn has been awarded a $2.2 million state grant to make street improvements along the Lynnway, which will support future economic development in the area.
Announced by Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday, the MassWorks Infrastructure Grant will fund infrastructure and intersection improvements at the junction of the Lynnway and Blossom Street.
The improvements are being made to support planned housing and future transit-oriented development opportunities, such as the future Blossom Street Residences, a $23 million project that will create 72 units of market-rate condominiums, with the potential for up to 100 additional units on an adjacent site, according to Baker’s office.
“The $2.2 million MassWorks grant will be a game-changer for the city in our decades-long effort to reimagine the Lynnway and the waterfront,” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “These funds will help to transform this intersection at Blossom Street and prime the area for future economic, transit-oriented development by directly linking our downtown to the waterfront.
“I want to thank the administration for this opportunity and the state delegation for their continued partnership and commitment to serving Lynn and its residents.”
James Marsh, the city’s director of community development who wrote the grant application, said that from a community development perspective, he was excited to see the infrastructure connections that are being funded by the grant become a reality after years of discussions.
“We have been discussing the barrier the Lynnway creates between downtown Lynn, surrounding neighborhoods and the waterfront for years,” said Marsh. “These funds will help us begin the process of creating safer access to our waterfront and amenities such as Seaport Marina, Heritage State Park, the harbor boardwalk, and our future signature open space.
“Likewise, it will help create access for residents living on the waterfront side of the Lynnway to downtown, and destinations like our new YMCA, the Commuter Rail, the Lynn Auditorium and area restaurants.”
Traffic and safety improvements will include the creation of a four-way intersection where Blossom Street and the Lynnway meet. The six-lane Lynnway is currently strained by vehicular traffic at the Commercial and Shepard Street intersections, which results in unsafe conditions and heavy traffic, according to state Sen. Brendan Crighton’s office.
The project is aimed at alleviating those conditions through a reconfiguration of the intersection at Blossom Street, which will allow for better access to associated businesses, the pier, terminal and boat ramp.
State and city officials say the new intersection will provide significantly enhanced safety measures for pedestrians and drivers by offering realigned, ADA compliant crosswalks, and improved traffic signals. The signals will be able to detect bicycles and vehicles and will feature pedestrian signal push buttons and countdown heads, according to Crighton’s office.
“Infrastructure investment is one of the most effective ways we can foster economic development and the state’s MassWorks grant has been a reliable tool to do just that in the city of Lynn,” said Crighton. “It has been great working with Mayor McGee and his administration to make sure that we are putting the policies and funding in place to help create housing, jobs, and transit-oriented development.”
State Rep. Daniel Cahill added: “Lynn continues to benefit from this type of public-private investment along the waterfront resulting in a flurry of activity that is reshaping the city. We are appreciative of local, state, and private parties working collaboratively to bring Lynn’s long-term vision of its waterfront area to fruition.”
State Rep. Peter Capano said he was “relieved and pleased to learn that infrastructure investments at Blossom Street and the Lynnway are finally going to take place,” and thanked the city and Baker administration for making the work a priority.
“These intersection improvements will help open up the waterfront to the rest of the city, relieve traffic congestion on Commercial and Shepard Streets, and are another step forward in reshaping the future of our city,” said Capano.
“With these funds, Lynn will see improved access to the waterfront and the boat ramp, as well as greater safety measures for pedestrians and drivers from crosswalk and traffic signal changes,” added state Rep. Lori Ehrlich. “These upgrades make the city safer and support its continued economic development as a rapidly growing city just north of Boston. I am excited to see another significant investment in Lynn’s future take shape.”
Planned developments will also get a boost with the creation of an expansive boardwalk, which is in the planning stages and will run along the city’s waterfront. Officials see the project as another step toward the city’s economic reinvigoration, in terms of the walkway continuing the connection from Lynn’s downtown to the waterfront, according to Crighton’s office.
Lynn was one of 35 Massachusetts cities and towns that benefited from this year’s round of MassWorks grant program funding. Nearly $68 million in grant funding was awarded on Thursday, which will fund 36 projects that are aimed at supporting housing, economic development, and road safety initiatives across the state, according to Baker’s office.
“MassWorks provides essential funding to cities and towns for infrastructure projects that spur housing production, create jobs and attract private investment, which are particularly important during our economic recovery,” said Baker. “We are grateful for our partnerships, both with the Legislature and with local officials, that make these investments possible, and we look forward to continued collaboration to support Massachusetts’ economy.”