This week my House colleagues and I were in session for nearly 9 hours on Wednesday to pass House Bill 4179, An Act Financing Improvements to the Commonwealth’s Transportation System, which provides necessary financial aid to improve the state’s transportation system and to fund municipal infrastructure projects.
It was important to pass the bill in order to authorize $200 million in Chapter 90 road and bridge project funding for cities and towns like Westfield and maintain funding for federal and non-federal interstate highways, Regional Transit Authorities like the PVTA, and the Commonwealth’s rail transportation system.
I was successful in offering an amendment, which passed the House on a voice vote, to secure funding for a downtown parking garage for Westfield, like the one they have in downtown Northampton.
Now that our city has spent so much time and revenue to renovate the Green, re-do Main Street, Court Street, and Broad Street, and build the new Great River Bridges and parks, I believe that private investment in our city will follow. In fact, we’ve already seen an increase in interest in the downtown. A parking deck may someday be necessary to accommodate the vehicles we anticipate will come to our downtown.
The bill has to pass the Senate before it goes to the Governor. All local priorities in the final version of the bill, like my parking garage amendment, are subject to the approval of the Patrick Administration.
Building and maintaining transportation infrastructure likes roads, sidewalks, bike trails, airports, and bridges is a vital part of what government should do. As you know, Westfield has had more than its fair share of transportation-related construction over the past 5 years.
This summer we are very close to seeing the completion of a number of large public works projects in our city. Some, like the Great River Bridge project, have been on the drawing board, under discussion, and in the works for many decades.
Westfield people have been talking about building a second bridge over the Westfield River for a hundred years. My grandmother once asked me if she would live to see it. I told her she sure would. And now, here it is.
Please join the me, Senator Mike Knapik, Mayor Dan Knapik and city officials, and other members of the Greater Westfield community along with Governor Deval L. Patrick at 2:30PM next Friday, June 29, as we celebrate the completion of the $80 million Great River Bridges & Parks project.
Festivities will go from 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m. For details on all the activities surrounding the dedication and the 4th of July events in Westfield, visit http://www.cityofwestfield.org/?p=6945
It’s been a long time coming but I think people will agree that the work and the wait have been worth it. The new gateway to our city looks fantastic and will be an attraction to people. It reconnects us with the river. Traffic moves much more smoothly and efficiently now. Since the railroad overpass was replaced there hasn’t been a single tractor trailer truck stuck under it, backing up traffic for hours. And once Pochassic Hill is finished and the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail is completed, that area will be a hot destination spot.
I want to thank the commuters, the neighbors and local businesses who were most impacted by the construction, for their patience. Thank the contractors and construction workers, the city and state officials, for seeing this project through to completion. And especially thank all the taxpayers for paying for this investment in our city. Now it’s time for the payoff.
A new installment of my cable show, “From the State House to Your House.” has begun airing on Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. This month my guest is Karen Rubin, who is the head of the Amelia Park Children’s Museum. We taped the show at the museum and talk all about what the children’s museum has to offer the kids and families of the Greater Westfield area.
The show runs on Channel 15 on Sundays at 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., and also Fridays at 2:30 p.m.. I invite you to tune in and watch. Your feedback and suggestions are appreciated.
There will also be a new show appearing on Channel 15 called “Out Front TV.” “Out Front TV” is produced in Western Massachusetts by the Berkshire County Republican Association in Pittsfield and focuses on local and state issues from a conservative point of view. I have been a guest on this show many times in the past. I think it is very well done. The times are Mondays at 1o p.m. Fridays at 3 p.m., and Sundays at 5 p.m.
Mark your calendars: I am anticipating that the House and Senate will pass another Sales Tax Free Weekend for this summer. The proposed dates are Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and 19. I’ll keep you posted on when this passes the legislature and becomes law.
Have a great week. I hope to see you at the bridges next Friday!
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803.
Email address: [email protected]
Website: www.DonHumason.org
