SPRINGFIELD – Jay Ash, the secretary of Housing and Economic development, believes that a passenger rail connection between the western and eastern parts of the state would be a positive element for further economic development, but it’s not the only element to boost the economy of Western Massachusetts.

Ash made his remarks as part of a recent interview broadcast over Focus Springfield (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBYhIlUM_U&feature=youtu.be&list=PLolIYDZfz1YJdfXhvKQiI9igy3Ls5En3Z) with Reminder Publications.

Ash noted that such a rail connection could take years to accomplish and cited how long it took Congressman Richard Neal to revive Union Station.

Ash said he was involved for 18 years on a project to coordinate rail and bus transportation around the city of Boston, but “it never happened.”

“It’s one thing to work on the long-term things, it’s another to say can I wait 10, 20, 30 years to wait for something to happen. What do you do inbetween?” Ash asked.

East-west rail deserved “a look-see,” he added, but the state should “focus on the things you can do today, the things you can do over the next five or ten years and the things that may be longer out.”

Ash said, “We’re laser focused on the things we can do today.” He cited a plan to assist advanced manufacturing and efforts to strengthen innovation.

Stressing he is speaking just for himself and not for the Secretary of Transportation, he said that while it would be “great” to connect east and west, it would be better “for Springfield to be the center of economic activity not only for western Massachusetts, but for Connecticut and New York as well.”

Ash asked, “What do we need to do to focus on that [goal]?”

The existing and planned north-south rail connections are exciting to Ash, as are the on-going improvements to Interstate 91. East-west rail could be a reality quicker, Ash said, if federal funding of large scale transportation projects returns.

Ash noted that Massachusetts is ranked 47th in a national poll in terms of affordable housing costs, but tenth in a poll about business climate and first in another survey about overall livability.

“The good news is there are other things compensating for the cost of housing,” he added.

One issue employers  in Massachusetts face is a lack of qualified workers for jobs such as in precision manufacturing.  Ash said the Baker Administration has responded by creating a workforce skills cabinet.

Talent is the number one driving force behind what is happening in Massachusetts,” he said.

As the former long time city manager of Chelsea, Ash said his approach to economic development is on the local side. He said if you can assist a business, that success translate to the rest of the community and helps the region and ultimately the state.

Ash said that he and Gov. Charlie Baker very much believe in regional equality in terms of attention and state resources and that he spends most of his time in Western Massachusetts.

“I say it all the time: I’m really not needed in Boston to help the development of Boston,” Ash noted.  He added that when he comes west to Worcester and Springfield that’s where he feels he is needed.

The current gridlock in Congress has been a factor in planning and implementing economic development projects, Ash said.

“We’re very high on what’s happening out here now,” he said. Ash lauded local collaborations he has seen as well as the habit of officials and businesses making plans for projects.

“Stability is a great thing and knowing when your partners make commitments they can carry out those commitments is important. We rely on the federal government for a lot of direction and a lot of funding. Over the years, the decades, that funding has slipped away. We need them to be partners, especially places that aren’t named Boston or Cambridge that are just doing fine on their own, but even Boston and Cambridge have economic problems around transportation and housing need help from the federal government as well,” he said.

Ash continued that bipartisanship is “working well” in Massachusetts and noted the Democrat-controlled Legislature approved a $1 billion economic development package requested by a Republican governor.  

“We’re doing things in Massachusetts that need to be replicated elsewhere … through our example here we’re creating something we’re hoping people take and emulate,” he said of how government works in the Bay State.