One of four streets set to be upgraded with $2 million US DOT SMART Grant award

    MANCHESTER, N.H. – On Monday, the Office of Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais announced that the City of Manchester has been awarded a $2 million Stage 1 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

    Manchester was one of 34 Stage 1 SMART Grant recipients over 21 states totaling $50 million. The grants aim to leverage technology to create safer, more efficient and more innovative transportation systems. Here in Manchester, the funding will evaluate existing traffic conditions on Maple, Beech, Pine and Chestnut streets south of Bridge Street and then implement or install advanced traffic signal optimization technology on one of those corridors to reduce delay and emissions while improving safety and communications.

    “As Manchester continues its positive growth, we are right to focus on how traffic is affected,” said Ruais in a statement. “This SMART Grant will help increase vehicle flow as well as safety in corridors that are currently susceptible to congestion. Improving our traffic management in the city will benefit drivers, pedestrians and businesses alike.”

    Manchester was one of 308 applicants for the program, with the funding accepted into a Community Improvement Program allocation to accept the funding during the Jan. 7, 2025 Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting.

    Following the completion of the Stage 1 SMART Grant project, up to $15 million may become available in Stage 2 SMART Grant funding.

    Funding for the program was authorized by Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with $100 million appropriated annually for Fiscal Years 2022-2026.


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