Mayor Domenic J. Sarno Sarno states, “I am grateful for the support and collaboration from our U.S. Sen. Edward Markey as we work to improve the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of roads. Improving our roadway infrastructure is very important for our safety and quality of life and we are looking forward to our continued teamwork to enhance the “X” area. I am proud that we are doing so with an eye toward energy efficiency and the impact in our environment through the Massachusetts Green Department of Transportation (GreenDOT) Policy Initiative. Thanks, again to Senator Markey and his team on this collaboration.”
Read Senator Markey’s recent article from MassLive below:
Why I am working to improve Springfield’s ‘X’ intersection
By U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey
Our country is experiencing a road safety crisis. The roads are becoming more and more dangerous for everyone, with traffic fatalities hitting a 16-year high in 2021. These accidents especially hurt underserved communities, which lack the modern transportation infrastructure necessary to reduce injuries and fatalities. The four Gateway cities — Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell and Methuen — which are culturally and racially diverse regions in Massachusetts, home to large immigrant populations, shoulder 51 percent of Massachusetts’ motor accidents.
The roads we take every day to go to work and school must be accessible, reliable, and safe. I worked with members of the Massachusetts delegation to deliver $30 million in grants — from the Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All program that is unlocked by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — for communities across Massachusetts.
From $2 million for the Boston Metropolitan Area to $15 million for the city of Springfield, these funds prevent our roads from being a hazard for the pedestrians who go on their morning jog and the cyclists who bike into town.
We can push for more responsible driving, better roadway infrastructure, safer speed-limits, and improved crash response systems. The Safe Streets for All program is a step in the right direction. But Congress can do more to fund roadway safety.
Accidents are not only harmful but also costly. In 2019, traffic crashes cost a total of $340 billion. The costs associated with reckless driving — including substance use, distractions, failure to wear a seatbelt, and speeding — can be stopped.
We need inclusive, commonsense road safety solutions that address transit safety in every community, especially those that have been historically overlooked and left behind. Through a deep dive into the intersections of poverty, language access, racism, and other inequities, we can gear our country and our Commonwealth to zero accidents.
As a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, I will do everything within my power to ensure that our roads are safe for everyone.
That is why I am collaborating with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno to advance roadway infrastructure at the “X” intersection — one of 25 projects in the city that will put the recently awarded funding to good use.
The “X” runs through Sumner and Belmont avenues and Dickinson Street in the city’s Forest Park area, which is filled with shops, restaurants, and a 735-acre outdoor park. The junction serves as a critical transportation feature for residents and tourists. Because of its traffic congestion, motorists, residents and businesses owners have voiced concerns over delays, connectivity and safety.
In fact, Massachusetts’ DOT has ranked the “X” as the 16th most dangerous intersection in the state. It is safe to say that the “X” needs comprehensive road safety.
I am proud to have delivered more than $2.5 million through the Citywide Systemic Safety Interventions Project to improve the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of roads. This will include strengthening parking regulations and installing more crosswalks, among other roadway improvements.
Moreover, this project will follow the Massachusetts Green Department of Transportation (GreenDOT) Policy Initiative. The project will promote greener and healthier styles of commuting, such as walking, biking, and public transit, so that we can drive down carbon emissions and stop global warming from kicking into high gear — all while ensuring that our families, friends, and neighbors can safely cross the road.
Why I am working to improve Springfield’s ‘X’ intersection - masslive.com