Police departments in 41 Worcester County communities are set to receive a total of $939,751 from the state’s Municipal Road Safety Grant Program, announced by Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on Oct. 16. The funding, part of a $13 million statewide package, will help local officers enhance traffic enforcement, pedestrian and bicyclist safety patrols, equipment, training and public‑education efforts.
Grant distribution across the county
The Worcester Police Department earned the largest award at $59,649. Following it are Fitchburg ($42,640), Milford ($38,510), Shrewsbury ($35,036) and Holden ($34,767). Of the county’s 60 municipalities, 41 appear on the list; the smallest awards went to Royalston ($7,991) and Princeton ($8,621).
Statewide, the program delivered about $5.56 million to 191 police departments, with Worcester County departments capturing roughly 17 % of that total.
Additional grant opportunities
Three departments also secured money through the State Traffic Safety Information System Improvements Grant Program: Fitchburg ($47,613), Lunenburg ($19,538) and Millville ($3,930). The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office received $65,750 from a separate state‑agency grant.
How the money can be used
Grant guidelines tie award limits to population size. Communities with more than 40,000 residents may request up to $65,000, while towns under 12,000 residents can seek up to $25,000. Recipients may spend the funds on traffic enforcement, safety patrols for pedestrians and cyclists, new equipment, officer training and public‑education campaigns.
State officials praise the investment
“These investments will give police departments the enforcement tools, training, technology and resources they need to prevent crashes before they happen, address dangerous driving and ultimately save lives,” Governor Healey said in a statement. Lt. Gov. Driscoll added, “Safe roads are a shared responsibility, and communities need the right resources to address the challenges they see every day.”
Kevin Stanton, executive director of the Office of Grants and Research, noted the agency’s commitment to helping local communities make Massachusetts roads safer for everyone. Jonathan Gulliver, MassDOT undersecretary and state highway administrator, said the grants support the state’s goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries by pairing police enforcement with road‑design and education initiatives.
Broader state safety funding
The statewide package also includes $6.43 million for state agencies, led by $4.78 million for the Massachusetts State Police. An additional $767,878 will fund traffic‑records and crash‑data work, while four nonprofit groups will share $246,009 through the Community Traffic Safety Grant Program, launched in 2024.
The Office of Grants and Research distributed 2,833 car seats and booster seats to 86 hospitals and family‑service organizations, each required to retain a certified child‑passenger‑safety technician for on‑site checks.
Traffic‑death trends
Massachusetts recorded 354 traffic deaths in 2025, a slight decline from 363 in 2024, according to MassDOT’s 2026 Highway Safety Improvement Program implementation plan. The plan lists a five‑year rolling average of 381.6 deaths, the highest figure in the data set dating back to 2017.
The municipal grant period runs from about Nov. 1, 2026 through Sept. 15, 2027.
Original reporting: This Week in Worcester — read the source article.
