Unpaved Roads Grant Program

The Unpaved Roads Grant Program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), provides financial support to municipalities in Massachusetts for the maintenance and improvement of locally owned dirt and gravel roads. Established following the passage of the Massachusetts Supplemental Budget Bill in June 2025, this competitive, reimbursement-based program addresses the unique transportation infrastructure needs of rural and underserved communities across the Commonwealth. With nearly 2,500 miles of unpaved roadways in Massachusetts, these grants aim to ensure safe, reliable access for residents, emergency responders, school transportation, and service providers in areas where paved roads are not feasible or available. Eligible applicants must be municipalities in Massachusetts with publicly owned and maintained unpaved roads. Each application must demonstrate that the proposed project is for a dirt or gravel road segment that complies with applicable Massachusetts procurement and permitting laws. Municipalities may submit multiple applications in one round but can only receive one grant award per fiscal year. The program offers construction grants of up to $1,000,000 and design grants of up to $150,000, supporting either contracted work or the purchase of materials and equipment for use by municipal staff. Funding may be used for road surface work such as grading, pothole repair, crown restoration, or addressing washboarding, as well as for safety and drainage improvements including signage, guardrails, and swales. The acquisition or lease of maintenance equipment like graders and loaders is also eligible. While limited design and permitting costs may be included, funding for paving, culvert work, new road construction, and unrelated landscaping is ineligible. All cost estimates must comply with MassDOT’s allowable thresholds for construction contingency, engineering oversight, and mobilization. The grant selection process evaluates project applications based on several criteria including current road condition, frequency of seasonal closures, importance of the roadway for accessing critical services, project feasibility, and the applicant municipality's designation as rural or underserved. Only projects that demonstrate readiness to proceed within one construction season and show financial feasibility within the grant ceiling will be considered. Applications for the Fiscal Year 2026 round must be submitted between November 6, 2025, and January 9, 2026, via the Fully Integrated Application (FIA) system on Grant Central. Only municipal officials with official Grant Central accounts may apply. Following application review, selected municipalities are expected to receive a Notice to Proceed in Winter 2026, enabling work to begin before the construction season. Awarded municipalities are responsible for managing project implementation in accordance with MassDOT requirements. Reimbursements are processed through Grant Central and handled by the assigned State Aid Engineer. Reimbursement requests may be submitted periodically or upon project completion. All work must be conducted by MassDOT prequalified horizontal construction contractors unless performed by municipal staff. Questions related to the program may be directed to the official grant and program contacts provided by MassDOT.

Emphasize readiness to proceed within one construction season; clearly explain road condition and critical public access needs