Springfield, Holyoke to address spaces under interstate highwaysDate: 9/19/2014 GREATER SPRINGFIELD – Two local communities, Springfield and Holyoke, were among eight that received nominations to take part in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Infra-Space Program, it was announced on Sept. 10.
The program is designed to identify and create renovation and redevelopment opportunities in areas where elevated roadways “are a barrier to neighborhoods, pedestrians, bicyclists, multi-modal travel, urban resources, and economic development opportunities,” according to MassDOT literature.
“We are pleased to receive several innovative ideas from across the Commonwealth for rethinking and redeveloping these locations,” MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey said. “We look forward to seeing public-private partnerships established to convert these areas and better serve each community.”
In August, MassDOT issued a Request for Information to cities and towns, businesses, nonprofit organizations, property owners, developers, and community and arts organizations asking for nominations in the hopes of building off the success of a private/public partnership with GTI Properties through which an area beneath the I-93 Southeast Expressway in Boston was remodeled with two improved parking lots, space for Zipcar vehicle-sharing services and bike cages.
“The public-private partnership to develop the area under the South East Expressway is proving to be a great success in connecting neighborhoods and providing important services and a place for artistic expression,” Davey said. “We are confident this innovative approach can work in other locations where a transportation barrier can be converted for a community’s benefit.”
Proposals for specific public-private partnerships were not announced as of press time.
The area beneath the Interstate-91 viaduct in downtown Springfield was nominated by the Mary McNally, executive director of the Springfield Parking Authority, in order to “make better use of the surface-area parking lots,” she said.
MassDOT’s summary of the proposal included improving the parking structures, installing additional paved walkways and bike racks and possibly improving area transportation services.
“I nominated the two garages under [I-91] for consideration for this program on the theory that the viaduct structure, the highway itself, presents a barrier to our neighborhoods, pedestrians, bikers and so forth and prevents them from enjoying the resources we have at the riverfront,” McNally said. “It is, at this point, a very non-specific proposal to create additional lighting, landscaping and beautification in general, and better access through the garages to the [Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway].
Holyoke’s proposal called for a pathway between South Holyoke and Springdale Park, improved lighting and sculpture installations for the Main Street area underneath Interstate-391.
A request for comment from Mayor Alex Morse’s office regarding the city’s potential involvement in the program was not returned as of press time.
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