Title
Resolve: Of the Malden City Council Supporting Actions to Maintain Social Distance on MBTA Buses in Response to the COVID-19 State of Emergency
Whereas, beginning in March 2020 the Federal and State Governments and the Malden Board of Health and declared States of Emergency to Respond to COVID-19; and
Whereas, Federal, State and Municipal Declarations and subsequent orders have restricted the capacity of public transportation vehicles in order to allow for sufficient social distancing for passengers and drivers;
Whereas, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (the MBTA) has modified bus schedules in Malden in an effort to provide more frequent service to allow for sufficient social distancing;
Whereas, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has created the Winter Shared Streets Grant program with the intent of funding quickly implemented projects that can support public health, safe mobility and renewed commerce;
Whereas, the MBTA has submitted applications to the Winter Shared Streets Grant Program and the Community Connections program that will fund Traffic Signal Prioritization improvements along Centre, Salem and Main Streets and bus lanes on Centre and Main Streets that will help reduce travel times for MBTA buses along these corridors thus providing further frequency of service and allowing for continued social distancing on buses;
Whereas, the Traffic Signal Prioritization improvements can be utilized by the Malden Fire and Police Department and local ambulance services to provide signal priority during emergency responses;
Whereas, the MBTA's Winter Shared Streets proposal is consistent with Malden Complete Streets Policy and contains improvement for pedestrians and bicyclists, such as improved crosswalks and a dedicated bicycle lane connecting the Northern Strand to the Malden MBTA Station.
Resolved that the Malden City Council hereby supports the improvements contained in the MBTA's Winter Shared Streets and Community...
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