Two Franklin County towns are benefiting from grants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) that will be used for snow removal equipment and radar speed signs.
Buckland was awarded $15,000 and Bernardston received $62,626.
Bernardston will use its grant to replace and upgrade the Highway Department’s sidewalk plow and sander.
“What we applied for and what we got from DOT was for the purchase of snow and ice equipment,” said Brian Miner, superintendent of the Bernardston Highway & Maintenance Operations Department. “What we have is currently 26 years old and it was tired. Hopefully this will last us another 25, 26 years.”
Miner said prepping for winter is important to the department, and ensuring the crew has reliable equipment with the latest and most effective technology, such as heaters in the cabin of the vehicle, is a priority. He noted that it may sound odd to be thinking about snow removal equipment in the middle of summer, but winter will be here in no time.
“It’ll be a huge upgrade for us and it’ll make it a lot nicer for the guys when they’re plowing at 2 a.m,” Miner said. “Half of our lives are dealing with snow.”
Buckland Town Administrator Pam Guyette said the $15,000 grant awarded to her town will be used to purchase three radar speed signs that will be placed “around town, in locations where speeding is a factor.” Guyette said the locations have not yet been determined, but will likely be decided after conversations with the Police Department.
Buckland and Bernardston were two of a total 34 municipalities and two regional transit authorities across the state that were selected in June to receive funding through MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program. The funding round awarded a total of $6.8 million in grants.
“At its core, this program is about helping communities create streets that feel safer, more welcoming and more connected for everyone — whether you’re walking, biking, driving or riding transit,” Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in a statement. “These quick-build projects are not just about infrastructure; they’re about improving daily life, supporting local businesses, and making neighborhoods more vibrant and accessible for the people who call them home.”
