Funds will be used for crosswalk enforcement in high-pedestrian, high-traffic areas
BOSTON – The Reading Police Department has been awarded a grant of $8,284.80 to help improve safety on local roadways through expanded crosswalk enforcement.
Money for this local safety initiative was made available as part of the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Road Safety (MRS) Grant Program. Grant funding is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is administered through the Office of Grants and Research within the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).
According to Traffic and Safety Officer Michael Scouten, who is working with Lieutenant Christopher Jones to oversee this grant, the Reading Police Department plans to use the funding to deploy two officers at a time in a series of decoy operations around the town to promote crosswalk law enforcement. The officers will be dispatched to high-pedestrian and high-traffic areas and will focus on enforcing pedestrian crosswalk laws by citing vehicle and bicycle violations.
“Reading takes great pride in its vibrant, walkable neighborhoods. Using these funds for pedestrian enforcement will serve as needed reminders for motorists and cyclists, leading to better safety outcomes for all,” said Town Manager Matt Kraunelis. “Thank you to the Reading Delegation for securing this important grant for the Town and to our outstanding Police Department for their work in keeping our residents safe.”
“Ensuring that crosswalk and traffic laws are being followed and enforced is essential to maintaining safer roadways for everyone,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading). “This grant funding will enhance the Reading Police Department’s ongoing efforts to keep our streets safe for all.”
“Enforcing crosswalk and traffic laws is important to keeping our roadways safe for pedestrians and drivers alike,” said State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn). “Thanks to the efforts of the Reading Police Department, this funding will give the department more resources to continue making getting around our community safer for everyone.”
“Pedestrian and road safety is one of the top concerns I hear from my constituents,” said State Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester). “I’m grateful to the Reading Police Department for proactively working to safeguard crosswalks and working diligently to keep pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers safe in Reading.”
The MRS Grant Program is designed to assist municipal police departments with the implementation of local traffic safety measures that will reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities, with grants awarded through a competitive application process. More than $6 million in funding is being distributed through the program this year to 210 municipal police departments on a cost-reimbursable basis.
