Congress approves federal funding for two local transportation projects

By Michelle Symington

Staff Writer

Congressman John Olver (D-1st District) recently announced that Congress has approved federal funding that will help West Springfield and Southwick move forward with transportation projects that will benefit residents, businesses and the communities as a whole.

Although Congress has approved the funding, the bill still has to be signed by President George W. Bush.

The funding is earmarked in the fiscal year 2006 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary and District of Columbia Appropriations conference report. The bill allocates $900,000 to West Springfield for improvements to the Union Street Railroad Bridge underpass and $1.8 million to Southwick for improvements to Routes 10/202.

Dana Roscoe, principal planner for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) said that West Springfield has been looking to make improvements to the railroad underpass for about three or four years.

He explained that the city had received federal funding in the past to study the Merrick/Memorial neighborhood to identify transportation problems.

"Clearly, the three low bridges on Main Street, Union Street and River Road are a problem," he said.

According to Roscoe, the low railroad underpasses restricts commercial access to the Trade Center and CSX rail yard.

He said that there are many residential neighborhoods south of the tracks and by bringing the commercial in from the north would reduce conflict between residential and commercial traffic.

He said that many trucks that cannot fit underneath the railroad underpass have been using the residential streets to access the CSX rail yard and the Trade Center.

According to Roscoe, the $900,000 would cover the design of the improvements. He estimated that construction would cost about $15 million.

He explained that the Union Street underpass allows a 12-foot clearance for trucks. The plan is to create a 14.5-foot clearance for trucks.

In order to add 2.5 feet of clearance, Roscoe said that the height would be added by going down into the street rather than raising or rebuilding the rail bridge.

According to Roscoe, it is easy for commercial drivers to get lost trying to access the Trade Center and rail yard because they have to find alternate routes. In addition, he said that some drivers have tried to go under the bridge and end up stuck because the truck was too tall.

"It is bad for the truck, bad for the people around the truck and bad for business," he said.

Roscoe explained that the PVPC and the city of West Springfield have tried to obtain state funding for the project, but he said the state has a policy that does not allow funding for design projects, for the specific category of funding needed for the project.

He said that Olver has expressed an active interest in the project and has been able to find the necessary funding to keep it moving forward.

Olver said, "In the West Springfield CSX rail yard we have a unique asset that is significantly under utilized. The Union Street Bridge underpass has been identified as the major impediment to the yard's development. I am pleased to have secured these design funds to get this significant regional project started."

Once the city receives the funding, Roscoe said that it will solicit engineering consultants to design the improvements.

He said that the role of the PVPC has been to figure out what problems exist and how to solve them. Now, the project will be handed to the city, which will accomplish the project, according to Roscoe.

During the time that the PVPC and the city have been working on the project, the two have hosted neighborhood meetings to gain input from the residents in the area.

Roscoe said that many of the residents have expressed concern about the area and pedestrian access around the underpasses.

Many residents have said it is dangerous to walk under the bridge in its current condition, according to Roscoe. He added that one of the accommodations of the new structure would be to make the area safer for pedestrians.

West Springfield City Councilor Paul Buodo, who is also the economic liaison for the Council, said that the restrictions of the bridges makes life complicated for trucks and the community.

He said that the city was just notified of the funding last week and the next step will be to meet with city officials and the PVPC.

He added that the funding will give the city a "unique opportunity" to offer access to the rail yard from the north side without using the residential streets.

"I am looking forward to figuring out a strategy and receiving the [funding] to put to good use as quickly as possible," he said.

The $1.8 million that is available for Southwick will allow the town to complete phase one of a three-phase project to make improvements to Routes 10/202 from the Connecticut state line to the city line in Westfield.

Roscoe explained that the road surface on Routes 10/202 is in bad condition. The town is looking to improve the road and add sidewalks to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Olver said, "Ultimately, the project will create a downtown business district for Southwick with the goal of attracting increased business and economic development."

Roscoe said that the improvements for the first phase will cost about $2 million with 80 percent federal funding and 20 percent state and local funding.

According to Roscoe, the first phase of the project is about 75 percent designed.

He said construction will not begin before spring, but he expects the project will advance six to 12 months.