MBTA gets $22 million in federal funds for Everett bus improvements

More than $22 million in federal money is on the way for MBTA bus improvements in Boston and Everett, an area that state lawmakers and developers are eyeing for a potential soccer stadium that would rely heavily on expanded public transportation infrastructure.

An MBTA project was awarded a $22.4 million grant through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make "essential improvements" to bus service along the Lower Broadway and Alford Street corridor in Everett and Boston, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey's office announced Tuesday. The funding will cover bus-only lanes, priority signaling for buses and new stop facilities, Markey's office said.

"The MBTA is grateful for this major federal award for the Lower Broadway Everett Transit Priority Corridor Project, which prioritizes safety and will improve the commutes of thousands of our bus riders and the Everett community as a whole through newly constructed bus-only lanes and bus stops, fully separated bicycle facilities, improved pedestrian amenities, transit signal priority, and enhanced accessibility along the 1.2-mile Lower Broadway corridor," MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said in a statement provided by Markey's office.

The Kraft Group is interested in transforming a blighted land parcel along the Mystic River, situated at 173 Alford St., into a 25,000-seat soccer stadium for the New England Revolution, who currently play at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Markey's office, which sent a press release Tuesday morning with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Gov. Maura Healey, made no mention of the soccer stadium project, which requires a zoning change that faces an uncertain future on Beacon Hill.

Legislation that looks to remove the parcel from its "designated port area status," which would launch a multi-year permitting effort with environmental and transportation reviews that ultimately pave a path to the stadium, has been awaiting action in the Senate Ways and Means Committee since late April.

The House Ways and Means Committee did not incorporate language from Sen. Sal DiDomenico's bill into its economic development bill released Monday. Citing a busy formal session underway, a DiDomenico aide could not answer State House News Service questions Tuesday afternoon about how the transit money is connected to the stadium project and the legislative vehicle for the DPA zoning change.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria referenced the stadium project as he celebrated the federal funding.

"I am grateful to our federal delegation for their support of the many years of hard work and collaboration between Everett, the MBTA, and many others that culminated in the awarding of this grant that will bring rapid transit to Everett. Bus Rapid Transit along the Broadway corridor will most importantly improve the daily commutes of thousands of Everett residents and provide them with greater access to education and employment options," DeMaria said in a statement to the State House News Service. "This grant also will provide for expanded public and multi-modal transportation options that support redevelopment opportunities such as a potential professional soccer stadium that will uplift Everett and the region while mitigating concerns about additional congestion from such projects."

Supporters of development opportunities in Everett have also told the mayor that "increased access to public transportation in Everett would help encourage higher uses of land available for redevelopment in the city," an aide to DeMaria said.

The soccer stadium plan calls for only 75 on-site parking spots.

During an April hearing on the bill, Boston City Council Sharon Durkan warned of traffic nightmares if events were happening simultaneously at an Everett stadium and TD Garden, located about 2.5 miles away. Durkan said additional MBTA investments are needed, since the closest train stop is about a mile away in Sullivan Square.

Expanding bus transit on the Lower Broadway Corridor would be "transformational" for Everett and Boston, Markey said Tuesday.

"This investment will enhance bus service for the thousands of Everett and Boston riders, many of whom are Black, brown, and low-income and rely on buses to get to work, health care, groceries, and childcare," said Markey, who lives in nearby Malden.

Massachusetts was also awarded two federal planning grants. Salem will receive $2 million to study commuter rail expansion and Gardner will get $1.2 million to analyze downtown "accessibility enhancements."

"Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we continue to be aggressive in seeking all available federal discretionary funds as they are a critical component in our wider efforts to deliver safe, reliable, and improved transit for everyone," Eng said. "We appreciate the support of the Healey-Driscoll administration, congressional delegation, our partner municipalities in Everett and Boston especially for their collaboration on this grant application, and the many riders who will benefit from this upcoming project."