Transportation and economic bond bills approved by the Commonwealth’s legislature could bring some big improvements to Natick, including for bridge work, road infrastructure, commuter rail parking, and small business support. The bills provide authorization (not a commitment) to fund local projects, and await action by Gov. Charlie Baker.
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“provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended on sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements to state highway route 27 in the town of Natick;”
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“provided further, that not less than $3,000,000 shall be awarded to the town of Natick for reconstruction and repair of the Boden Lane Bridge;”
- “provided further, that not less than $7,500,000 shall be awarded to the town of Natick for construction of a parking structure at the Natick Center Commuter Rail Station;”
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“provided further, that not less than $7,500,000 shall be awarded to the town of Natick for construction of a parking structure at the West Natick Commuter Rail Station;”
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provided further, that not less than $5,000,000 shall be expended to the town of Natick for reconstruction of the Route 27 and Route 9 Interchange;”
Among the items in the $626M economic development bill, H.5250:
- “provided further, that not less than $500,000 be expended for a competitive grant program to be administered by the department of early education and care for licensed early education and care providers in the city of Attleboro and the towns of Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley and Wrentham for the purpose of defraying fixed operating costs and costs associated with modifications to early education and care services necessitated by the COVID-19 public health emergency to be awarded based on demonstrated financial need and current reopening status or future plans to reopen during the pandemic;
- “provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended for grants supporting small businesses and workforce development programs in the MetroWest region, including the cities of Framingham and Franklin and the towns of Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway and Natick;”
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“provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for the Natick Center Associates, Inc. for economic development in Natick center to assist in recovery from the combined effects of the 2019 fire and the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic;”
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“provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the Center for Arts in Natick, Inc. for revenue lost due to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic;”
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