Walsh Amendment Would Create $2M Aqueduct Trail, Street Crossing Grant Program

Framingham State Rep. Chris Walsh joined his colleagues in the House of 
Representatives in passing a bipartisan environmental bond bill this week.

The bond bill adds much needed funding to environmental projects throughout the Commonwealth. 

Rep. Walsh successful filed an amendment that will further progress his aqueduct initiative started in 2012, for local aqueduct trails.

The amendment included language in the bill establishing a grant program to be administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for cities and towns, regional planning agencies, and other state 
organizations to plan and design area aqueducts for non-motorized recreational use trails.

A total of $2 million was appropriated for this program, that will assist in the preparation of the aqueducts as well as aesthetic improvements such as street crossings and signage. 

“The Aqueduct trails initiative creates in one sweep some of New England’s premier walking and biking opportunities. Combined with our robust program for “Rails to Trails” these beautiful linear parks will not only improve our current quality of life but be an environmental legacy of 
smart, “out of the box thinking” for future generations. This investment will enable us to tie all the separate sections of this system in to a safe, cohesive and identifiable whole," said Walsh.

The bond bill also allocates $10 million towards smart growth/ transit oriented design efforts. 

These funds will be used for the planning of land use and open space acquisitions, specific brownfields re-use assessments, to help cities and towns develop municipal open space master plans and allows for regional planning agencies and municipalities to work together in implementing these programs.