Fall River RDA accepts $200,000 MTTA grant for Pleasant Street streetscape design

Sarah Page, the authority’s executive director, told the board she had met with state staff and consultants about the urban renewal plan and environmental-impact-report scope. Page said staff will submit a Notice of Project Change to seek a narrower scope and avoid a full, costly EIR where practicable.

Page also announced the authority received a $200,000 Municipal/Tribal Technical Assistance (MTTA) grant to fund preliminary streetscape design for Pleasant Street. She said the city already has $1.7 million in federal construction funds for Pleasant Street and that the MTTA grant will fund pre-construction services and consultant design work.

“We can apply” under the MTTA program, Page said, adding that the grant will allow the authority to advance streetscape plans while staff address the EIR scoping questions. The board moved to accept the $200,000 MTTA grant and authorized the executive director to sign contract documents.

Next steps: staff will sign the grant documents, procure consultants for pre-construction design, and coordinate the Notice of Project Change related to the urban renewal plan.