Federal and state funding unlocks the city’s most aggressive pavement and sidewalk repair program in years — work begins this week.
The City of Medford announced Thursday that it is deploying more than $3.5 million in federal and state funding for road and sidewalk repairs this spring. The work, announced by the Department of Public Works, will target some of the city’s most deteriorated streets and pedestrian infrastructure across multiple neighborhoods.
The funding comes from a combination of state Chapter 90 highway funds and federal infrastructure allocations. DPW will prioritize repairs based on pavement condition ratings and pedestrian safety data collected over the past two years. Residents can expect to see construction crews in multiple neighborhoods beginning this week, with the bulk of work scheduled through June.
The announcement follows the Spring Big Sweep street cleaning program that kicked off on April 21, signaling a full push to address deferred maintenance before summer.
Medford has one of the older road networks in Greater Boston. This funding represents a meaningful down payment on deferred infrastructure work — and the timing, immediately after spring cleaning, means freshly cleared streets get repaired before next winter’s damage sets in.
Medford residents can once again purchase rain barrels at a discount through the city’s annual conservation program. The 2026 season program allows homeowners to buy rain collection barrels at reduced cost through the Planning, Development and Sustainability department.
Rain barrels connect to downspouts and collect roof runoff for use on gardens, lawns, and landscaping — reducing both water bills and stormwater runoff into the Mystic River watershed. The program typically sells out quickly. Residents interested in purchasing should contact the Planning & Development office at City Hall or visit medfordma.org for details and pricing.
The program is part of Medford’s broader sustainability commitments, which also include the mosquito larvae aerial application program that began earlier this month targeting standing water in wetland areas.
The MHS Building Committee has approved six design concepts for further study. Committee Chair Jenny Graham is addressing community concerns in an exclusive with Gotta Know Medford — full coverage at gottaknowmedford.com.
Today is Independent Bookstore Day, and Moon and Back Bookstore at 458 High Street is celebrating with a full day of events starting at 10 AM. The nationally recognized day highlights the role of independent bookstores in local communities, and Moon and Back — which opened in Medford Square in 2023 — has become a genuine anchor of the neighborhood.
Also at Moon and Back today: National Teach Children to Save Day at 1 PM, a financial literacy program for young readers in partnership with local banks.
Down the street, the Unitarian Universalist Church at 147 High St is hosting a large church rummage sale starting at 9 AM — a good source for spring finds before the warmer months arrive.