PEABODY — Money for the Riverwalk project and Boston Street road work improvements spanning Peabody and Salem road work improvements are included in $40 million in federal streetwork spending sought by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton.
“If awarded, these funds will make critical investments in supporting the major corridor improvement project on Boston Street,” said Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll.
Moulton nominated the Boston Street work for funding as part of his May request for Community Project Funding (CPF), which are projects that Moulton sent to the House Committee on Appropriations, and Member Designated Projects (MDP), which are sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Moulton is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The Canal Riverwalk project now in the planning process includes money to build the riverwalk while simultaneously replacing the failing south canal wall in Peabody.
“My team and I vetted a long list of requests for Community Project Funding to deliver resources where they’ll have the greatest impact on the ground in Massachusetts.” Moulton said. “We’re moving these projects forward in the process to deliver on some of my top goals: easing traffic, giving people more freedom and options to move about beyond cars, and addressing the chronic lack of mental health care.”
Community Project Funding requests were created this year after the Democrats became the majority party in the House and Senate. They allow members of Congress to address the most significant needs of the communities they represent by submitting 10 qualified, local projects that have community support to the Appropriations Committee for consideration of targeted federal funds.
Moulton’s nomination is the first step for the projects, and it is possible not all of them will receive funding. Next, the relevant federal agencies and the Appropriations Committee will review all of the submissions and determine which will be possible to include in Congress’ annual appropriations bills.
Those bills will go through multiple rounds of markups and eventual passage in the House and the Senate, and eventually head to President Biden’s desk.