Grant award to fund next portion of bike path

MATTAPOISETT — Mattapoisett will receive a state grant for $120,000 to complete pre-design work on Phase 2A of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, State Rep. Bill Straus, D-Mattapoisett, has announced.

The grant is part of the most recent round of awards under the MassTrails Grant Program jointly administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.  

The pre-design work is intended to close a one-mile gap in the shared-use path between Route 6 and the Mattapoisett Park and Ride. The project seeks to construct a paved path along a former railroad right of way, which will give bicyclists and others making use of the South Coast Bikeway an alternative to traveling along North Street. 

Once completed, the South Coast Bikeway will allow bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between New Bedford and Wareham with minimal exposure to Route 6.  

 “Without state funding, projects such as the Mattapoisett Bike Path would face an extremely uphill battle, so I am pleased that we were able to secure this grant needed to scope the project. This successful grant award would not have been possible without the support of the Mattapoisett Select Board, the appointed Bike Path Committee and the determined volunteers at the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path,”  Straus said. “I look forward to advocating for design and construction funding once we complete this preliminary work.”