When Governor Deval Patrick signed the state’s $12.8 billion transportation bond bill last week, he authorized two major projects, totaling $3,750,000 for Everett.
The most significant project is the $3.5 million Beacham Street reconstruction project, which will allow the city to rebuild the major truck route that serves the produce center and the energy industries that border Everett’s Lower Broadway neighborhood.
As a major roadway for commerce in Everett, the city first tried to access state funding to reconstruct Beacham Street, through the Mass Works grant program last fiscal year. However, the project was not approved for funding and the city had to start the [process of identifying funding all over again.
This year the city, working with State Senator Sal DiDomenico, was able to get the legislature to authorize direct funding for this critical transportation project, which connects one of the Everett’s major industrial zones to Route 99, I-93 and the city of Boston.
Despite the announcement of funding for the infrastructure project, there has been no schedule announced for start of construction.
However, Mayor Carlo DeMaria and the department of planning and development have placed a high priority on this project for the past two years and the city has already completed the majority of the engineering and design for the project.
In addition to funding the Beacham Street project, the Bond Bill also authorizes a $250,000 feasibility study to determine if a commuter rail stop can be added in Everett, potentially near to the site of the proposed Wynn Resorts Casino and Lower Broadway neighborhood. The addition of a commuter rail stop in Everett, servicing Boston and the North Shore, could be a critical part of transportation mitigation for the proposed casino.