**Not yet a member of The 016? Please take a second to join today and find out what all the buzz is about. Registration is free and easy.**
Finally some good news about getting to and from downtown
UPDATE: In response to a Facebook post about this news, City Councilor George Russell, Chair of the Public Works Committee, wrote that the meeting scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed until Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Getting to, from and around downtown Worcester is no picnic and it will get worse in the coming year(s). Drivers currently have had to navigate, in no particular order:
In addition, there’s the looming dual nightmares of the Kelley Square reconstruction and concurrent repaving of Grafton Street, along with the forever congestion that will be caused by prohibiting left turns off I-290 at Kelley Square up Vernon Street.
With all this going on it’s hard to find good news about getting in and around downtown.
Until now.
The good news in Green Island Boulevard, and it’s a big deal.
When completed, Green Island Boulevard will connect Madison Street and Quinsigamond Avenue via Lamartine Street.
In announcing it April 29 as part of a larger investment, City Manager Ed Augustus said, ““Nobody’s not going to know where Green Island is or how important Green Island is to the city of Worcester,” according to an article in Worcester Magazine.
Green Island Boulevard will be among a number of Polar Park-related items that will be taken up by the City Council’s Public Works Committee at its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
So how does a road being built ostensibly to support development of and around Polar Park become such a big deal? Let’s take a look.
Long before the city was negotiating with the Pawtucket Red Sox to relocate to Worcester, it had signaled its intention to deal with the problematic intersection of Southbridge Street and Quinsigamond Ave.
Fixing Southbridge Street and Quinsigamond Ave. was on the city's radar more than a year before the city started negotiating with the Pawtucket Red Sox
The boundaries of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority’s Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan in 2016 included that intersection. In fact, it was such a priority that “Improve traffic patterns and signalization at Quinsigamond Avenue and Southbridge Street” was ranked below just the changes to Federal Square, ahead of even the Midtown Mall (22 Front Street).
From the April 2016 Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan
So how does Green Island Boulevard help that?
If you’re at Southbridge and Madison streets and want to get to Quinsigamond Ave. or Route 146, you have two choices: continue down Southbridge Street with all the other traffic headed to South Worcester or head down Madison through Kelley Square to jump on 290 for the 146 exit. Green Island Boulevard offers a third option that relieves congestion on both of those routes.
Moreover, taking a right on Green Island Boulevard before reaching Kelley Square gives you pretty much a straight shot all the way to Quinsigamond Ave.
(Worth nothing that Gold Street used to serve this very purpose. Alas, the Public Works Committee meeting will include consideration of discontinuing Gold Street.)
It’s also possible Green Island Boulevard could relieve Kelley Square traffic from Harding and Green streets if people heading to 146 continue down Madison to Green Island Boulevard rather than fight the Peanut and 290 traffic.
Now, what works one way works the other.
Looking downtown from Lamartine and Hermon streets, Green Island Boulevard will run parallel to the train tracks and connect with Madison Street
Having a second, and perhaps more desirable, entry to downtown from 146 should reduce the numbers of cars that travel the 146-290-Kelley Square route while at the same time not further congesting Quinsigamond Ave. at Southbridge Street.
And it may not just be the easier access that pulls traffic down Lamartine Street and Green Island Boulevard.
Fronting Green Island Boulevard will be Madison Properties’ promised development. It was be shocking if the buildings fronting the boulevard do no include retail. And, if traffic does indeed flow from Green Island Boulevard to Lamartine to Quinsigamond Ave, it’s easy to imagine property owners on Lamartine Street, all of whom pretty much hold winning lottery tickets at this point, deciding to cash in and further development -- retail or mixed used -- coming to the area.
Green Island Boulevard will connect to Lamartine Street, giving commuters a straight shot to Quinsigamond Ave.
Blogs
Historic apartment would come with eye-popping price (July 21)
Nightmare intersection to be transformed (July 20)
Route 12 in West Boylston closer to adding two new restaurants (June 30)
New bakery part of $1M building project (June 23)
Long vacant downtown building to get nearly $9M overhaul (June 17)
College buys downtown building for $6.9M (June 1)
First food vendor at Worcester Public Market? (May 28)
Door closed on city reopening downtown shortcut (May 26)
Ryan Reynolds' summer blockbuster to film in Worcester next week (May 16)
Another big change on Lake Ave. as former ITAM Club sold (May 15)
Demolition of former Four Seasons can proceed, 4 houses planned (May 14)
Pot shop planned next to popular breakfast spot (May 12)
Complaints against Worcester businesses in 2019 (May 9)
Historic restaurant building targeted for demolition (May 7)
Midtown Mall sold, city wants to hear new owner's plans (May 5)
Thanks a million! (May 2)
The answer to this question could determine the fate of Kelley Square redesign (April 28)
The 016, the social network for Worcester and you
There's always something happening in The 016!
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:05). High of 20 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Suspects in fatal shooting on Dorchester Street in Worcester caught in Fitchburg
-Worcester reports fewer shootings in 2024, despite jump in homicides
-What nurses say must improve at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester
-5 townhouse units planned for Austin Street in Worcester
-Why so many Mass. breweries are closing (and what you can do about it)
-Worcester Community Housing Resources taps established executive as new leader
-Holiday travel rush continues (2:08). Article
-Worcester forum explores M.C.A.S. results and educational equity
-Worcester wants input on where to put new trash/recycling bins
-Radio Worcester (24:05): Worcester Police Union leaders respond to D.O.J. report
-Earlier: Boston Globe: Federal lawsuits lay out D.O.J. allegations against Worcester police
-Radio Worcester (17:50): Mayor Petty addresses City Council meeting amid heated debate
-Radio Worcester (19:13): City Manager Batista addresses D.O.J. report, legal strategy
>FAITH: Holy Cross professor — At Hanukkah, a celebration of eternal light − from desert tabernacle to synagogues today
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Unique Eateries (5:13)
-ICYMI: Midday snow delivers string of crashes in Central Mass.
-Woman struck by a car in crosswalk in Worcester
-At court hearing, 2 different pictures of fatal Worcester shooting
-Worcester D.P.W. chief Robert L. Moylan Jr. to end interim stint
-Worcester's Union Station listed among 6 of the Most Beautiful Amtrak Stations in America
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo — Fantastic freshmen on varsity sports teams
-Christmas Greetings from Everyone At Lamoureux Ford (:49)
-Mountview Middle School honor roll
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Southbridge day care worker admits to abusing child (2:01)
-Barre ambulance and Verizon utility truck collide on Route 62
-Botched drug deal at Leominster group home ends with arrest of 2 women
-Rutland police to hold car seat check-up on Monday
-Auburn wants feedback on possible regionalization of 911 services
-Shrewsbury Select Board updates (:35)
-Grafton Middle School teachers honored for "Promising Practices"
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Sunday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Candlelight tours, wrestling and holiday choral music
-Spotify's Top 10 most-streamed holiday tracks of all time revealed
-At Holy Cross, "Sojourners" captures the immigrant experience in 1970s America
>OPINION: Tom Marino: 9 years of Public Safety Committee ignoring police discipline
-Laura McCarthy-Ha: Simplifying gift-giving in a big family
-Laurelle Farrell: Lessons in a hair style…bangs
-WCCA-TV's This Is Worcester No. 211 (28:23): Sports, Sports, Sports!
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to an "accomplished and admired singer/ songwriter/ musician" born in Worcester
>SPORTS: Patriots fans will love Josh Allen’s take on Drake Maye’s future
-Van Pelt doubles down on not calling Maye runs after criticism
-NFL Week 16 schedule, TV and announcers
-Celtics beat Bulls, 123-98
-Bruins beat Sabres, 3-1
-Rickey Henderson, Baseball Hall of Famer and league's all-time stolen bases leader, dies at 65
-Railers beat Maine, 5-1
>NATIONAL: 2 Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent "friendly fire" incident
-Grandparent caregiving declines amid pandemic changes
-Tragic: Grandmother, 80, dies after getting trapped in Sleep Number bed for 2 days: lawsuit
>NEW ENGLAND: State police say Friday's storm caused 200 crashes across state (:22)
-Hypothermic hiker rescued by helicopter in White Mountains (:27)
>COLLEGES: Assumption Professor Cinzia Pica named Visiting Scholar at Harvard
-Anna Maria AMCAST (50:10): Holiday Movies 2.0
-Clark professor gives lecture on what it means to be a feminist in wartime
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Waldorf-Astoria insists hotel will reopen in spring
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
-Financial planning for parents’ assisted living
>HOMES: Tips for moving
>SHOPPING: Cozy gifts your mom will love this holiday season (4:04)
-Holiday gift ideas from unique local businesses across Mass. (4:58)
>HEALTH: Expert explains possible risks, benefits of raw milk (2:49)
-Dr. Todd Ellerin on vaccines and their impact on children (3:40)
>FOOD: Taco Bell unveils new menu item
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for new Netflix doc, "Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action" (2:21)
>MOVIES: "Barbie 2" in early stages with Greta Gerwig returning to write
>CELEBRITY: James Kennedy arrested for domestic violence weeks after getting fired from "Vanderpump Rules"
>HISTORY: City Hospital, circa 1907
>ANIMALS: Dog becomes mama to a litter of tiny rescue kittens (1:42)
>GOOD NEWS: Man with a rare tumor was told he had months to live. Now, he's cancer-free
-Meanwhile, Mariah Carey fans get into a wild fight at Christmas concert: "On the naughty list"
Latest obituaries | | Saturday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
-Staff Associate, Urban Action Institute, Worcester State
-Controller, Worcester State
-Multiple positions, Holden DPW
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather
Comments