State Agency Recognizes I-495/MetroWest
Combatting congestion along Interstate 495 and improving rail connections from Central Massachusetts to Boston are two priorities in a new report from the state Office of Housing and Economic Development.
The report, entitled, “A Framework for Action: The State Regional Economic Development Strategy,” gives in-depth profiles of the state’s economic outlook and local regional profiles. In fact, the report makes note of the often overlooked I-495/MetroWest region.
The inclusion of that region is symbolically important, according to Paul Matthews, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership, based in Westborough.
“I think it’s big step forward because there is recognition that this is a formal region. It may not sound like much, but that is pretty big,” Matthews said. The partnership has worked for a number of years on transportation and other infrastructure issues in the I-495 area, but also for recognition of the MetroWest area as a separate region with its own dynamics.
“In the past the MetroWest area has definitely been an underappreciated economic engine for the state. What you have here, the rest of the regions need,” said Eric Nakajima, senior policy advisor for the Office of Housing and Economic Development, who helped put the plan together.
Priorities In Line
The state also supports expanded federal funding for inter-city high-speed passenger rail, including an evaluation of a Boston-Worcester-Springfield high speed train.
Another action step includes corridor-planning initiative hot-spots, which will likely include a study of the I-495 corridor, which Matthews said is badly needed.
The report also calls for support for water and sewer infrastructure, another issue that the partnership has been working on for a number of years.
Worcester and the North County are also on the list for transportation improvements. In Worcester and Fitchburg, improved commuter rail service is listed. The needed enhancements along Route 2 are also noted.
There are general goals listed in the report including supporting and encouraging exports, environmental stewardship and sustainability. It also calls for focus on the “fundamentals,” including continued attention to cluster development in areas such as the life sciences and green energy.
Listed in the “key actions” for the region are: development of Worcester’s growth district, further expansion of the life sciences facilities at University of Massachusetts Medical School, development of the CitySquare project in Worcester and continuing the build-out of Devens.
Helping the regions collaborate as well as helping each region with its unique issues is important to move the entire state ahead, Nakajima said.
“The American Dream is not about getting rich. In practical reality it’s about communities that allow working people to have a decent life for their kids, a stable life and live in some dignity while contributing back to their communities,” Nakajima said.
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