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Date: 5/13/2020
BLANDFORD – Town residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on whether or not they favor a turnpike exit in Blandford in a non-binding ballot question at this year’s local elections on June 27.
The question reads, “Do you favor construction of a new exit on the MA Turnpike between existing Exit 2 in Lee, MA, and Exit 3 in Westfield, MA, providing access to the Town of Blandford?”
“The selectboard wanted to gauge exactly where the residents of Blandford stand regarding a Mass Pike exit in town. The initial idea was to take a vote during the national election in November, as the voter turnout will likely be at its peak. However, due to some legalities, we are putting the question on the local election ballot. We worked to draft a question that is clear and concise. Unfortunately there is not an exact location for the exit, if it were to go through as of yet. So voters will be voting on if they would like to see an exit for access to Blandford between Exits 2 and 3 or not. The outcome of the vote will tell us, as selectpersons, if we should proceed with conversations regarding the exit with our state representatives or not,” explained Cara Letendre, chair of the Board of Selectmen.
In a notice to residents, Town Administrator Joshua Garcia noted that the exit project is not a town-managed project or a town-controlled decision. The project and the decision are in the hands of the Commonwealth.
Garcia further noted that this is a non-binding advisory question, which means that the outcome of the vote does not mean it will be the definitive course of action taken by the Commonwealth. “Instead, it will symbolically make heard the general opinion of the voting population of the Blandford community regarding the exit,” Garcia said.
Over the last two and a half years, a working group of state and local officials and regional stakeholders led by MassDOT Project Manager Cassandra Gascon Bligh conducted a feasibility study of a new interchange between Exit 2 in Lee and Exit 3 in Westfield. The 30-mile stretch between the two exits is the longest in the Commonwealth.
After initially looking at seven areas where I-90 crossed local roads, the study concluded that an interchange at the Blandford Service Plaza or the Blandford Maintenance Garage were the most feasible. Estimated costs for the Blandford Maintenance Facility are $29.5 million, and for an interchange at the Blandford Service Plaza, $34 million.
The feasibility report also concluded that in order for an interchange project to advance into more detailed design and permitting, the involvement of local and regional stakeholders is essential. The advocacy of residents, state legislators, local officials and planning departments will be critical to gathering support and securing funding for the project’s advancement. The final study is available for review at www.mass.gov/massdot/i90study.
While residents of area towns had the opportunity to express their opinions at several public meetings over the course of the study, a town referendum has not been held since 2014, when a home rule petition to explore an exit was signed by a majority of residents and sent to legislators, according to Blandford Selectman Eric McVey at an outreach meeting last October.
The Blandford local election is scheduled to take place on June 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day to register to vote is June 17.
Any questions regarding voting status,may be addressed by contacting the town clerk at townclerk@townofblandford.com or 848-4279, ext. 203.