Governor
Patrick’s plan to create jobs and expand our economy across the Commonwealth
through investments in 21st Century
transportation and educational opportunity is nothing less than a blueprint for
a bright future of growth and high quality of life for citizens wherever they
may live.
And nowhere is that vision- and potential- more vivid than in the
Metro West area surrounding the I-495 interchanges with I-90 and Route 9.
I had the pleasure of visiting Marlborough this week and speaking to state and
local leaders in that region about the Governor’s bold plans to invest in our
future- and what it means for their local residents and the state as a whole.
The news about the economy in this area is extremely
positive. More than 300 businesses employ nearly 14,000 workers in the
I-495/I-90/Route 9 surrounding area, from large employers EMC Corporation and
Global Investment Servicing to new entrepreneurs. In fact, new businesses
in this area represented almost 6% of new business filings in the Commonwealth
in 2009.
Today, the question for the Metro West region, and every region in
our state, is how can we build on this success and create new opportunities in
the future? A comprehensive MassDOT study of the Interchange
495/I-90/Route 9 region involving significant input from local leaders and
residents will soon make final recommendations about short-term and long-term investments.
I want to thank the Study Advisory Group and 495 Metro West Partnership for
their participation and ideas.
These investments will require funding, and the Governor’s plan
offers a solution. “The Way Forward- a 21st Century Transportation Plan” includes
a critical first step- $12 million to widen Route 9 and construct other
improvements between Computer Research Drive in Westborough and Crystal
Pond Road in Southborough. This project will benefit area employees and provide improvements that create the ability
to walk or bicycle safely through the corridor.
Working through our strong state, local and Metro West business
partnerships, we will make future transportation improvements in the I-495
corridor a priority, including the congested interchange of I-495 and I-90.
In addition, the Governor’s transportation plan includes an investment in
every single community across the Commonwealth in the form of an historic $100
million statewide increase in annual Chapter 90 funding for local road and bridge
projects. This will make a real, positive difference for communities such as Wayland in Metro West and every City and Town in our
state.
The Governor’s FY14 budget proposes new tax revenues
essential to making these investments a reality. Additional revenues will
support public investments in education, transportation and innovation that
will create jobs and opportunity, and be raised in a way that improves the
simplicity and fairness of our tax system, and ensures our economic
competitiveness.
These new revenues come only after the Patrick-Murray
administration first made great progress in reform and cost control across
state government, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation
alone. But even with these reforms, the state budget is challenged to
meet our obligation to protect the most vulnerable residents in our communities
while making critical investments in our economy.
We all want a Massachusetts where employees can easily get
to and from work, where every student receives a quality education, and where
everyone who wants a good job can get one. By investing in the Commonwealth’s
education system, we will provide universal access to high quality early
education, fully-funded K-12 schools, and more affordable and accessible higher
education. By making strategic transportation improvements, we will
provide residents what they have told us they want- safer roads and bridges and
more bus, train, and subway service. And these investments will pay off-
The American Public Transportation Association says every dollar invested in
transportation produces $4 in economic return.
Governor Patrick has charted a course of optimism about our
state’s future and growing opportunity for all. And he has told us that
opportunity can be achieved only if we invest in our infrastructure, and our
people. I look forward to working with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
and legislators and the business community from Metro West and every corner of
our state to make the case for this bright future.
