An effort in Springfield to redesign and provide a major facelift to just over three miles of a major city artery, known as the State Street Corridor Project, will break ground at an event on Tuesday, July 1, 10:30 am at the Putnam Vocational Technical High School, 1300 State Street.

The project, which aims to improve physical conditions, will improve traffic flow and provide guidelines for corridor aesthetics, and will better accommodate cyclists pedestrians and cars alike. “The vision is an urban boulevard with strong visual appeal,” the city’s planning department notes, “that will act as a front door to neighborhoods, key institutions, and employers. Preliminary research shows a possible total of nearly $400 million of annual expenditure potential.”

The roughly $16 million project is 80 percent federally funded, and 20 percent state funded; the city is planning an additional $750,000 expenditure on lighting improvements, and area utility companies have invested more than $5 million over the last two years in infrastructure improvements, according to a release from Mayor Domenic Sarno’s office (see below).

Expected at the event, along with Mayor Sarno, are Congressman Richard Neal (pictured left) and Massachusetts Highway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky (pictured right).

The corridor, which is home to a number of the city’s major business and educational institutions, was the focus for an economic development and housing study last year performed by ZHA Inc. based in Maryland. The study was commissioned and funded by the State Street Alliance to examine retail and housing market opportunities along the corridor.

Any final report resulting from that study was not, to my knowledge, made public, but at a meeting last August (pictured left), initial findings were shared, including the recommendation that a major grocery store could be supported along the corridor, along with other merchandise stores clustered around it with the grocery as an anchor. Other facts about the demographics along the corridor, potential for office space occupation, regular traffic volume, and income and spending potential for nearby residents were discussed. My reports last year on the meeting are available here and here.

The city’s new, modern federal courthouse on State Street, designed by Moshe Safdie and Associates, is nearing an opening date, in fits and starts, and was recently spotlighted in the Republican in an article by Stephanie Barry as well as a video (below) by Mieke Zuiderweg. Many view the courthouse as a harbinger of the positive change coming to the corridor. Others have simply complained about the many potholes on State Street that will probably have to wait to be fully addressed until the corridor receives its makeover. Below is the mayor’s office press release about the groundbreaking.

STATE STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT TO BREAK GROUND

June 26, 2008 - Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Congressman Richard E. Neal and Massachusetts Highway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 1 at 10:30 a.m. to announce the formal start of the State Street Corridor Project. The groundbreaking will take place at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School at 1300 State Street.

“I am very pleased that we are breaking ground on the State Street Corridor redevelopment project. This important initiative will transform and modernize State Street from St. Michael’s Cemetery to the Connecticut River. It will also help attract economic development and investment to area. It is simply very good news for the City of Springfield,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.

The State Street Corridor project involves the redevelopment of 3.2-miles of Springfield’s major urban thoroughfare extending west to east between East Columbus and Berkshire Avenues. Roadway construction and improvement costs are estimated at nearly $16 million. The federal government will fund approximately 80 percent of the project and the remaining 20 percent will be state funded. In addition, the City will spend $750,000 on lighting improvements. Over the past two years, utility companies have invested more than $5 million in infrastructure improvements.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the project represents a milestone in the city’s redevelopment. “I’m very excited that this project is ready to get underway. The State Street Corridor winds through the heart of the city and a project of this magnitude are destined to spur additional development and opportunities for all who live, work and play in Springfield.”

“We are pleased to begin work on this important redevelopment effort,” said MassHighway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky. “This project will make this vital corridor safer and easier to navigate, and supports Governor Patrick’s goal of spurring investment and economic development in Springfield.”

“This reinvestment in our urban center in the City of Springfield is a vital component for the expansion of economic opportunities. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Congressman Neal, my legislative colleagues, City officials and the business community, this ground breaking is the beginning of a brighter future for Springfield and our area towns,” State Senator Gale D. Candaras said.

Representative Ben Swan said the State Street Project is an important lift to the revitalization of the city of Springfield and it is an intricate part of the city’s comeback, especially the Mason Square community. “We must always keep in mind that Springfield is the heart of the Pioneer Valley,” said Swan. “I will take this opportunity to commend Governor Patrick, Congressman Richard Neal, and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno for their contribution to such a magnificent show of insight and cooperative spirit in making this project a reality.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 10:20 am and is filed under Architecture, City corridors, Demographics, Development, Events, Planning and design, Public spaces, Springfield, Studies and reports, Transportation, Urban Compass, Urban design, Walkability.