U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN, U.S. SENS. EDWARD M. KENNEDY AND JOHN KERRY ANNOUNCE $30 MILLION FOR WORCESTER TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

Contact: Michael Mershon
(202) 225-6101

July 29, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and U.S. Sen. John Kerry today announced that they have secured $30 million for transportation projects in Worcester.

The funding is included in the final conference report of the highway reauthorization bill (the Transportation Equity Act - a Legacy for Users). Rep. McGovern served as a member of the Conference Committee. The House and Senate both passed the conference report this week, and the President is expected to sign it.

"This federal funding is great news for Worcester," Rep. McGovern said. "It's vital to our economic development that we have a first-class transportation system. I'm pleased that we were able to secure such significant, direct funding for these important projects. From the new Blackstone Visitor Center to the Gardner-Kilby-Hammond neighborhood to the CitySquare project, these investments will pay long term dividends to our community"

"Things are happening in Worcester, with the new Gateway Biotech Park, CitySquare, the reinvigorated Gardner-Kilby-Hammond neighborhood, and the emergence of the city as a national leader in the life sciences," Sen. Kennedy said. "These transportation improvements will help keep that progress going and help attract additional outside investment to the city in the years ahead."

"This is a good investment in our roads that will reduce traffic congestion and reduce air pollution in and around Worcester. It will also keep our communities nice places to live, work and visit," Sen. Kerry said. "I'm glad to work with Congressman McGovern and Senator Kennedy to make this strong investment in Worcester."

A COMPLETE LIST OF WORCESTER PROJECTS SECURED BY REP. MCGOVERN, SEN. KENNEDY AND SEN. KERRY IS ATTACHED:

1) $2.6 million for infrastructure improvements in the Gardner-Kilby-Hammond area: reconfiguring road network and utility relocation in the vicinity of Tainter Street, Ripley Street and Ripley Terrace where new Clark University Track and Field and Boys & Girls Club are being constructed.

2) $900,000 for reconstruction of Goddard Memorial Drive from State Route 9 to Airport Drive: reconstruction of a 2.2 mile heavily-traveled urban connector within the City of Worcester, including associated drainage improvements

3) $6.4 million for engineering and construction of the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center at the intersection of State Route 146 and Millbury Street;

4) $5.6 Million for construction of a Blackstone River Bikeway and Worcester Common Bikeway Pavilion;

5) $2 million for streetscape and roadway improvements on Main and Maywood Streets (near Clark University)

6) $4.5 million for City Square Project: These funds will support the public infrastructure improvements necessary to accommodate the construction of the $563 million City Square project in Worcester

7) $9 million to construct rail freight corridor improvements between Worcester and Boston.