Funding Will Support Equitable Design and Construction of Infrastructure Improvements in Roxbury

BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), co-founder of the House’s Future of Transportation Caucus, announced $20 million in new federal transportation funding that she secured for the City of Boston’s Roxbury Resiliency Corridors Project. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grants program, will support the construction of safety improvements at several intersections and provide enhanced mobility for all along sections of Melnea Cass Boulevard, Malcolm X Boulevard, and Warren Street in Roxbury. 

Rep. Pressley has been advocating for federal funding to support the Roxbury Resiliency Corridors Project and submitted a letter of support for the project to DOT in April 2022.  

“Transit justice has always gone hand-in-hand with racial, economic, disability, and environmental justice, and it is imperative that our transportation investments reflect that,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I’m proud to have helped secure this essential funding for the Roxbury Corridors project, which will support safer, more reliable, and more accessible modes of transportation for the diverse communities who live and travel through Roxbury. I thank Mayor Wu for her partnership and for prioritizing community input on this important project, and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition.” 

“Safe, accessible transportation options are vital for ensuring climate resiliency in our communities and connecting our residents to economic opportunity,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to the Biden administration and Congresswoman Pressley for her partnership in ensuring our streets work for everyone, and I look forward to engaging community so the improvements reflect our needs.” 

This project will proactively include innovative approaches for climate resilience with green stormwater infrastructure and “hot spot” heat mitigation, while addressing the historic legacy of inequities within these three key corridors in Boston. The City of Boston will be launching a community process to allow for residents to provide input into the designs while promoting quality of life for residents and removing the barriers to access public transit and non-vehicular modes of travel. 

More information about the Roxbury Resiliency Corridors Project and the benefits it would bring is available here.  

Last year, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) delivered $15 million in federal transportation funding for the Blue Hill Avenue Corridor Project. 

In March 2021, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Markey re-introduced the Freedom to Move Act, their legislation to support state and local efforts to establish public transportation as a public good through fare-free services. Last week, Rep. Pressley and Sen. Markey urged the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to make the entire T fare-free for the duration of the Orange Line’s shutdown. 

In October 2019, Rep. Pressley founded the Future of Transportation Caucus, a Congressional caucus focused on centering equity, access, and sustainability in our transportation systems. Rep. Pressley also co-chairs the Congressional Bike Caucus. 

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