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> Special Sections > Special Features > Xmas in July?
Xmas in July?By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
The State Senate and House of Representatives have each endorsed their versions of the Transportation Bond Bill earmarking billions for infrastructure improvements throughout the Commonwealth.
While some legislators on Beacon Hill have praised the new legislation, others are reluctant to celebrate.
"We equate bond bills with Christmas trees: They're all lit up and pretty but you don't get any presents [under the tree] unless you've been really, really good this year," State Rep. Donald Humason Jr., R-Westfield, told Reminder Publications. "We have to convince the governor that we've been really good this year."
State Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield, disagreed, however. "This proposal is extremely important to our cities and towns," he said. "With the release of the bond, the Legislature is sending a clear message to municipalities across the Commonwealth that even in these bleak fiscal times, we are not going to neglect local road and bridge projects."
The House passed their version of the Transportation Bond Bill, House Bill 4846, on June 16; the Senate unanimously approved their version, Senate Bill 2790, on July 10. A joint conference committee must now be formed in order to draft one comprehensive bill.
Within their version of the legislation, the House earmarked $700,000 for design, reconstruction and signalization for the Dewey Street and Amostown Road intersection in West Springfield; $220,000 for the design and construction of safety improvements at Pease Avenue and Morgan Road in West Springfield; $825,000 for the design and construction improvements at the Morgan Road and Piper Cross intersection in West Springfield; and no more than $4 million for the design and construction of a parking deck in Westfield.
Senate Bill 2790 allocates $1.2 million for improvements to the Exit 3 interchange on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westfield; earmarks $200,000 for the construction of a new highway barn and salt shed in Southwick; and $750,000 for road improvements and traffic signal installation on Feeding Hills Road, specifically at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School.
Jeff Neece, director of the Department of Public Works in Southwick, said the funding for the new salt shed is "premature" as the shed is the small part of a larger building plan to build a new public works facility. He noted that the new public works facility that will house equipment, personnel, emergency management personnel and operations center. Neece added that there is currently no site for the facility, however.
He explained that road improvements to Feeding Hills Road would include the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Feeding Hills Road and Rebecca Lobo Way the entrance to Southwick-Tolland Regional High School in order to prevent traffic congestion at the beginning and end of the school day. Neece noted that road widening would also be needed in that area in order to create a left hand turn lane.
He said that traffic signals to improve traffic flow have also been proposed at Hudson Drive and Powder Mill Road.
Larry Smith, city planner in Westfield said funding for improvements to the Exit 3 interchange are vital due to increasing traffic congestion.
"Frankly, we need these improvements now," he said.
Smith noted that the $1.2 million allocated in the Senate bill would "plug a financial gap" that the city would have had to absorb for the road improvements in conjunction with the proposed $100 million Target distribution facility. The cost of the improvements total $5.2 million.
State Rep. James Welch, D, West Springfield, said that the first step for any infrastructure project is having funding earmarked in the bond bill and then it is the job of legislators to lobby for the funding.
"This is something that we'll [West Springfield legislators] be lobbying for," he said. "We'll do everything in our power [to make known] that these dollars will be very beneficial to West Springfield."
Welch noted, that the final word on all projects rests with Gov. Deval Patrick's administration, however.
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