Newton has received a $120,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Disability (MOD) to improve accessibility infrastructure at the intersection of Watertown and Chapel Street.
The grant requires the city to give a match 20 percent of the project’s estimated $150,000 construction cost.
The Commission on Disability, an advisory group appointed by the mayor’s office, has provided suggestions for the city’s application of these funds.
In addition to advising the city on accessibility improvements for infrastructure, the Commission on Disability also acts as an advocacy group, raising awareness on issues affecting the community for people with disabilities.
The grant could add three additional curb ramps to the intersection, increasing accessibility for individuals crossing the street in wheelchairs.
Funds could also create improvements in pedestrian safety.
Currently, the intersection has accessible pedestrian signal poles which feature both audio and vibrotactile crossing indicators. These indicators help communicate to individuals with impaired vision when it’s safe to cross.
The grant could move these closer to the curb ramps to increase ease of access.
Improvements for the intersection are yet to be finalized. Engineers in the Public Works department are still surveying the intersection to see what improvements can be made given the constraints with utilities.
According to Jini Fairley, the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for Newton, the city initially intended to use money from the Community Development Block Grant to fund the project.
To Fairley’s surprise, they were approved for the state-funded grant last week.
“There’s really very little ADA grants that you can get a hold of,” Fairley explained during Monday’s Commission on Disability meeting.
“I just want to say how excited I am that we got this grant,” said John Lovett, co-chair of the commission. “Newton got two MOD grants two years in a row, which never happens.”
The Commission is set to meet with Public Works in January to start the initial design process for the intersection.
Fairley said the final deadline for the project is June 30.