By Evan Lips 4/23/10
MARLBOROUGH - Gov. Deval Patrick and Attorney General Martha Coakley rubbed elbows with senior citizens yesterday at a conference on aging, an event Patrick described as “marvelous thing.”
“I am now about to be 54 years old and I’ve lived all my life in multi-generational households,” Patrick told a cafeteria full of seniors at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School.
The 30th annual Senior Conference, sponsored by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, was free and featured services, workshops, food and entertainment. Eldridge said he sponsored the event to help seniors learn more about what the state has to offer them.
“This event provides them with crucial information and support,” Eldridge said in a statement released prior to the conference.
For Hudson resident and World War II veteran Walter Brazeau, it was a chance to be thanked by Patrick for his courageous efforts on the beaches of Normandy.
“He’s (Patrick) the first governor to attend this event in the 30 years we’ve been holding it,” Brazeau said. “I’m happy he’s here and I’m happy he remembers our veterans.”
Patrick, who is seeking re-election this November, stopped by nearly every table in the Assabet cafeteria to chat with seniors.
“He cares about seniors and he’s genuinely sincere when he says that,” said longtime city resident Barbara McGuire, mother of Mayor Nancy Stevens. “I have faith that he’ll continue to do a great job.”
After lunch was finished, Coakley arrived, walking with seniors through the corridors of Assabet and offering advice on everything from law enforcement to identity theft protection.
“I’ve been waiting to meet you,” an excited Jean Peltak told Coakley outside the cafeteria. “You’ve done such great work in this state and I’m so happy you’re here.”
Coakley joked that the energy of the conference was putting a youthful stride in her step.
“Everybody here is young at heart today,” she said.
But not every interaction was lighthearted. Sudbury resident John Donovan asked Coakley how the state can better crack down on drug trafficking.
“Unfortunately nobody - including her - knows that answer,” he said after his brief encounter with the attorney general. “We just can’t control the faucet that’s pumping drugs into this country.”
After her meet-and-greet sessions, Coakley’s visit took on an air of seriousness when she spoke about elder abuse and scams during a presentation in Assabet’s auditorium.
“Technology may be changing but common sense hasn’t,” she said. “If you see something that’s too good to be true, it probably is.
“You want to make sure that you protect your information, use that same common sense.”
Coakley warned seniors to be wary about everything from credit card fraud to fake charities, telling seniors to call her office if they had any questions.
Rep. Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlborough, told seniors the door to her office is also open.
“I am here as a resource to you,” she said. “Please don’t forget that.”
By Priyanka Dayak 4/23/10
MARLBORO - There were lots of handshakes and hugs for Gov. Deval L. Patrick at yesterday’s Senior Conference, but also some tough questions and pert opinions.
“Casinos,” said Diane J. Rutana of Marlboro, “we need them in Massachusetts.”
Her husband, Donald L. Rutana, tried to persuade the governor that slot machines at existing racetracks would be good for the state.
“I’m not persuaded we’d get the jobs, but I promised the speaker (of the House) I’d keep an open mind,” Mr. Patrick responded.
The governor stopped to talk to the Rutanas and many others in the crowded cafeteria at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, where 1,300 seniors gathered for the 30th annual conference. The event is sponsored by state Sen. James B. Eldridge, D-Acton, and funded by donations.
Mrs. Rutana said she runs monthly buses to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, but she’d rather take her busloads of seniors to yet-to-be-built casinos in Massachusetts. “It’s good, it’s getting them out of their homes,” she said.
“Casinos are good for many reasons,” her husband added. After the governor moved on to another table, Mr. Rutana said the governor seemed surprised the couple talked so adamantly about the issue.
Many seniors raised another issue with the governor - transportation. Doris A. Marcotte of Marlboro wants the state to offer more transportation for the elderly, especially for the blind and legally blind. She drives a car now, “but I’m getting older, too,” she said.
Some seniors said they would vote for Mr. Patrick’s re-election this fall, while others said they are undecided.
When it comes to addressing issues that matter to seniors, “I don’t know if anybody’s done a good job,” said Lee Thomson of Marlboro. He is most concerned about taxes and the cost of government.
“How (are) we going to pay for this?” he said. “If you have limited resources, it gets hard.”
The governor told the crowd that he and his wife grew up in multigenerational households. “We are very aware in our own lives of our role in caring for our elders,” he said.
“Each of us in our time is supposed to do all we can to make it better for those who come behind,” he added, stealing a phrase from his grandparents.
The governor later told reporters that if he wins a second term, he wants to continue working on his Community First strategy, which gives seniors the option of aging in their own homes rather than nursing homes.
“It was slowed by the economic downturn,” he said of the costly program.
Ann L. Hartstein, secretary of Elder Affairs, also spoke to seniors, saying she has been traveling across the state to find out what issues are most important to the elder population.
She asked the seniors to pretend exercise is a pill, and encouraged them all to swallow it.
Seniors from the region began the conference in the morning with several workshops, which included information about property tax relief, heart and brain health, identity theft, assisted living and wills and estates.
There was also the ever-popular belly dancing class.
“It’s good exercise,” said Joanne Cutler of Sudbury, who tried belly dancing for the first time yesterday.
Having a variety of exercises and activities is important for seniors, she said. “This is very fun and very feminine. You can go home and show it to your husband,” she added, laughing.
Belly dancing instructor Gypsy Phillips is in the same age group as the seniors she was instructing. “For seniors, I think it’s excellent, instead of sitting down and playing Parcheesi,” she said. “You’re moving every single part of your body.”
By Evan Lips Apr 16, 2010
NORTHBOROUGH -Months after anti-bullying advocate John Halligan moved an assembly of Melican Middle School students with the story of his son’s suicide, his message lives on.
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, made an appearance yesterday at the middle school library, fielding questions from students about how proposed anti-bullying legislation will affect their school.
While members of Assistant Principal Michelle Karb’s TASK group (Teachers, Administrators, and Students for Kids) lobbed questions at Eldridge, students said they worried Halligan’s message was fading.
“During the weeks after his (Halligan’s) visit, everybody was so much nicer to each other,” eighth-grader Jenna Ferrini told Eldridge. “But the feeling began to wear off after that and kids started bullying each other again.”
Halligan’s late-January visit to Melican came at a critical time, just weeks after South Hadley resident Phoebe Prince committed suicide and a little over a month before the state Senate passed sweeping legislation aimed at curtailing bullying in schools and online.
“The final bill should pass within a month and the governor should sign it before summer,” Eldridge told students. “Our goal is to have it in place before school starts this fall.”
Students like sixth-grader Mike Upton wanted more details.
“Does the bill apply to people who are bullied after school?” Upton asked.
Eldridge said the cyber-bullying kids face online would count if it affects life at school. He also stressed that the bill is intended to give principals and teachers more responsibilities over how to address bullying.
“Our intention is for teachers to be trained on how to deal with these issues so we can help prevent them before something bad happens,” he said.
Eldridge also told students that the stack of letters they sent to his office helped make a difference.
“We hear from adults all the time on various issues,” he said. “But when we hear from students like you, that’s what really gets our attention.”
Thus far, Melican Middle School is the first school in Eldridge’s 14-town district.
Eldridge’s visit was largely the result of Melican’s TASK force, Assistant Principal Michelle Karb said after the meeting. She acknowledged that while Halligan’s presentation made an impact on students, efforts to curb bullying should continue.
“It’s important to keep that momentum going,” she said. “When we’ve got a bullying problem on our hands we have the kids come to the office and watch the video of John’s (Halligan) presentation so they can relive that message.”
At the close of the meeting, Principal Pat Montimurro stressed the importance of the students’ work.
“In the end they are the nucleus of this school,” she said.
Eldridge agreed.
“Keep on writing these letters, you have no idea what kind of an impact they have on us,” he said.
April 16, 2010 By Priyanka Dayal
NORTHBORO - After Jenn Millar’s father died, she dealt with more than grief and sorrow.
“People made fun of me,” the eighth-grader said.
Classmates posted comments online and in text messages teasing Jenn, saying her father probably faked getting sick and no one would want her for a daughter.
“Who does that? Who takes the time to do that?” she said in an interview yesterday.
Jenn and several other students at Robert E. Melican Middle School have joined a group called Teachers, Administrators and Students for Kids, which aims to improve the way students treat one another. Students say bullying is a problem as much here as it is anywhere, and with the help of adults - including legislators - they are hoping to change that.
“A lot of kids don’t really take the time to realize the bullying that’s going on,” said Jenn, 14. “They’re afraid, or they don’t know who to say it to.”
Conor O’Shea, 13, says TASK students are trying to set positive examples and are available for students who need to talk about a bullying problem. Adults at the middle school are supportive, but “we need more kids to be supportive,” he said.
“I’ve been bullied,” said Conor, who is in eighth grade. “You feel horrible … I know kids who don’t come to school because of it.”
Many students at the middle school wrote letters to state Sen. James B. Eldridge, D-Acton, in support of bullying legislation. Yesterday, they met with the senator, who told the students their letters “made a dramatic difference” to lawmakers.
Both the House and the Senate have passed bullying bills. A conference committee of representatives and senators, including Mr. Eldridge, are merging the two bills for final passage later this month.
Both bills outlaw bullying in schools and aim to curb harassment that is verbal, physical or electronic, and causes students harm. The Senate bill suggests that school employees be trained so they can identify and respond to bullying; the House bill requires such training but says it should be available for free.
The Senate bill would require school employees to report bullying incidents to school principals, while the House version calls for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop reporting regulations.
Lawmakers have pointed to the story of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, who committed suicide after facing incessant bullying, as a reason why legislation is necessary. Several South Hadley students are facing criminal charges in the case.
The conference committee is still debating the details of the bill, including how to define bullying, Mr. Eldridge told students.
Joe Mccuine, a seventh-grader, told the senator students are trying to come up with productive ways to stop bullying. Hanging “stop bullying” posters in school hallways won’t necessarily stop bullies, he said.
Many students said they were touched by a recent visit from John Halligan of Vermont, whose 13-year-old son committed suicide after being bullied. Jenna Ferrini is one of those students, but she said the impact of Mr. Halligan’s talk, in January, has faded.
“We learn things, but we keep forgetting them,” said Jenna, an eighth-grader.
Administrators at the middle school said they have kept the issue of bullying at the forefront. Assistant Principal Michelle T. Karb started the TASK group last summer to address bullying and other issues.
Bullying starts when children are young and continues into high school, but it peaks in middle school, when students “get hooked in with technology,” Ms. Karb said. “Mentally, many are not ready for that.”
Northboro adopted a bullying policy in 2005. It defines bullying as “the use of power by one or more individuals over another to intentionally cause harm.” The policy requires an investigation of bullying incidents and disciplinary actions, if necessary.
To comply with the new state bullying law, which is expected to be signed by the governor, Ms. Karb said the middle school will formalize and make more transparent the steps that already exist to deal with bullying. Teachers may go through additional training, she said.
Teachers and administrators are aware of students who tend to act as bullies, but they don’t plan to keep a list, Ms. Karb said. Wire Village School in Spencer developed a list after asking students to name bullies in a school survey.
By Todd Wallack, Globe Staff | April 10, 2010
Boston Scientific Corp. has not created the 331 jobs it promised in return for millions of tax incentives to expand its Marlborough campus four years ago, state records show.
Rather, the medical device maker told Massachusetts officials that it had actually cut 100 jobs in Marlborough as of last summer. Statewide, the company has cut hundreds of jobs since it received the tax incentives.
And Boston Scientific recently disclosed plans to eliminate as many as 1,300 jobs worldwide - raising the possibility that more could be lost in the area - though the company will not say where the reductions will be.
State Senator James Eldridge, Democrat of Acton, said Boston Scientific’s failure to fulfill its jobs promise highlights the need for stronger laws to make sure the state can reclaim tax money when companies don’t hold up their end of an agreement.
“You are dealing with public dollars,” Eldridge said. “If the state is giving companies public dollars to create jobs, and that promise is broken, then the state should have the power to take back the tax break.”
A spokesman for Boston Scientific, Paul Donovan, said the company has no plans to return the subsidies. As of last summer, Boston Scientific said it had already saved $689,907 in local property taxes and nearly $2.4 million in state taxes.
Massachusetts officials say there is usually little they can do when a company fails to meet its job commitments, other than to end its tax breaks early, which it has not done in the case of Boston Scientific.
“The state is reviewing the project and currently requesting additional information,” said Kofi Jones, a spokeswoman for the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council, the state board that oversees the tax incentives.
Boston Scientific won its tax break by promising to expand its Marlborough campus, retain 669 jobs in the city, and create at least 331 new positions by 2010.
Boston Scientific said it planned to renovate its existing 500,000-square-foot facility and was considering building an additional 500,000 square feet of office and lab space by 2014.
Marlborough officials said the company has completed the interior renovations, but hasn’t expanded its footprint yet.
In return, the company won a discount on its local property taxes for up to 20 years and qualified for state tax credits worth up to 5 percent of the amount of money Boston Scientific invested.
Boston Scientific recently said it had about 2,000 employees statewide, down from about 2,300 when it applied for the tax break.
But Donovan, the company spokesman, declined to say how many workers the company now has in the state or how many additional jobs it plans to cut.
The company told the state it has invested more than $12 million in the Marlborough campus since it received the incentives.
Marlborough officials said they have already reduced Boston Scientific’s local property tax break, according to a formula in the city’s pact with the company.
“We have safeguards in the agreement,” said Arthur G. Vigeant, president of the Marlborough City Council.
But city officials haven’t taken any action to end the tax incentives altogether. “We don’t want them to pack up and leave,” said chief assessor Tony Trodella.
The latest job cuts come at a time when Boston Scientific has been trying to slash expenses.
The company has lost money for four straight years, including $1 billion last year alone, because of sluggish sales, costly litigation, and regulatory problems.
Still, Boston Scientific is hardly on the verge of failure. It had more than $8 billion in sales and $864 million in cash at the end of 2009. And it gave its new chief executive, J. Raymond Elliott, a pay package valued at $33 million last year, making him one of the country’s highest paid CEOs.
Governor Deval Patrick recently signed legislation that will make it easier to force companies to repay the state in the future if they don’t fulfill their job commitments, but the law only applies to new projects approved starting this year.
Noah Berger, executive director at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a Boston nonprofit research group, agreed with Eldridge that the state should be able to recoup tax money when companies don’t create the jobs they promised. But ideally, he said, the state wouldn’t offer such incentives in the first place.
“Corporations hire and fire based on demand for their products, not state tax policy,” he said.
By Sen. Jamie Eldridge/Guest columnist Apr 11, 2010
Proponents of expanded gambling in Massachusetts say it’s all about jobs for them — and I take them at their word. Indeed, there’s no doubt that bringing casinos to Massachusetts would create some new jobs.
But what gambling-supporters fail to mention is the jobs that will be lost as well as those that will be gained. They don’t mention the local businesses, especially restaurants and entertainment businesses, that will suffer when casinos come to town, nor do they mention the effect that sucking billions of dollars out of the local economy, and sending it out-of-state to wealthy casino developers, will have on our communities.
This is at the heart of why I will be voting against any proposal to bring casinos or slot machines to Massachusetts — because I believe they would be bad for small businesses, bad for families, and bad for our communities.
The fact is, people only have so much discretionary income, especially in a recession. This means that for casinos to make a profit, people either need to spend money they don’t have, or people need to spend money at the casino that they would otherwise spend somewhere else. When consumers spend less locally on clothing, sporting events, electronics, meals out or tickets to a show, small businesses suffer and jobs are cut. We’ve seen it happen in other states, and it will happen here in Massachusetts, too.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. According to a newspaper interview with casino owner Donald Trump, “People will spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that they would normally spend on buying a refrigerator or a new car. Local businesses will suffer because they lose customer dollars to the casinos.”
Love him or hate him, Donald Trump clearly is a man who knows something about casinos, and something about business — and when even a casino owner acknowledges that local businesses will suffer, it’s worth paying attention to.
Small businesses aren’t the only ones that will suffer. Expanded gambling has been shown to cause increased crime rates, including embezzlement, robbery, aggravated assault, DUIs, and auto theft. Local crime victims, and municipalities facing increased public safety costs, pay the price. Despite the promises made in the House’s casino bill about funding local aid, these additional financial burdens are unlikely to be made up by projected casino revenues.
Increases in problem gambling leads to distressed families, child neglect, suicide and bankruptcy. Domestic violence rates go up, as do foreclosures. Families break apart, and thousands of people become addicted. Why would the Commonwealth, whose mission is “to promote the common good,” partner and promote a product that leads to such negative outcomes for thousands of its citizens? Given the financial strength that Massachusetts has due to the diversity of its economy, does it really make sense to bring in a product like casinos that damages so many parts of that economy?
Finally, there is the cost of missed opportunities. There are more effective ways we could be spending our money. Top economists, including Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Samuelson, agree money spent in casinos does not have nearly as much of a positive effect on the rest of the economy as spending and investment in other industries.
We need more jobs in Massachusetts, but expanding gambling is simply not an effective long-term economic development strategy. There are better strategies for creating jobs and promoting economic growth in the Commonwealth that don’t come with the significant downside that casinos bring.
I’m not insensitive to those who are currently unemployed, including many in the construction industry who are desperate for work. I understand that joblessness has social costs too, and it’s not easy to oppose a solution that would certainly help some families in my district.
But the job of the Legislature is to look at the bigger picture, and think about the impact the actions we take now will have on generations to come. Casinos might be an easy short-term fix, but we’ll have to live with the consequences for decades to come. I truly believe that bringing casinos and slot machines into our state is a bad gamble for Massachusetts, and that’s why I’ll be voting “no” on expanded gambling proposals this spring.
Sen. Jamie Eldridge is a Democrat representing the Worcester and Middlesex districts.
In a recent editorial, the Telegram & Gazette said that “Americans already blessed with clean water supplies can probably skip the bottled water debates.” Unfortunately, this line of reasoning assumes that we have an endless supply of clean water, and a well-maintained water infrastructure system to deliver that water.
We don’t.
This past March may have shown that Massachusetts is not lacking in rainwater, but the many floods, wells shutting down, and the release of untreated wastewater across the commonwealth demonstrates that Massachusetts faces increasing challenges with its aging water infrastructure - and an expanding bottled water industry will only make the problem grow larger. I would argue that if we ignore the effect that the growing bottled water industry is having on our water supply, not to mention the toll decades of underfunded maintenance has had on our water infrastructure system, we may not be blessed with a clean water supply for very long.
Clean water is essential to the quality of life of the residents of our communities, and is a vital element for growth and productivity in our economy. The integrity of our water infrastructure system has a large impact on our public safety and our public health. The ability to fight fires, provide clean water to residents and businesses, and the ability to deal with wastewater without negatively impacting our rivers, streams, and groundwaters are all services our residents take for granted.
But our cities and towns are facing a water and wastewater crisis created by antiquated infrastructure and a failure to properly invest in maintaining existing infrastructure. Massachusetts cities and towns are responsible for maintaining over 125,000 miles of sewer pipes and over 100 municipal wastewater treatment plants, many of which are aging. Cities and towns maintain thousands of drinking water wells and over 200 surface water supplies. It is estimated by the EPA that $8.5 billion is needed in Massachusetts to fund needed improvements to the state drinking water infrastructure.
And the longer we wait, the worse the problem grows. If we do nothing and maintain the status quo, the cost of protecting our clean water supplies - and thus, the cost of water - will only go up.
What does all this have to do with bottled water?
Up to 40 percent of bottled water comes directly from our public tap water systems. Dasani, Aquafina and other bottled water manufacturers take our tap water and sell it back to us at thousands of times the cost.
At the same time, the bottled water industry has built a $15 billion U.S. market by casting doubts on public drinking water systems, and convincing the public that bottled water is safer, cleaner, and better tasting. One effect of this campaign has been that people across the country are losing confidence in public tap water - even though bottled water is actually less regulated than tap water. As the bottled water industry has grown, the political will to adequately fund public water systems in the U.S. has diminished.
At the same time, Massachusetts spends a little more than half a million dollars a year on bottled water for state offices and public events. At a time our public water system in Massachusetts needs billions of dollars in improvements, we can’t afford to spend scarce public dollars on bottled water when we have clean, safe tap water readily available.
The Telegram & Gazette called this idea a “literal drop in the bucket.” Maybe so, but all these drops in the bucket add up. Why not invest this $500,000 a year in our public water system, rather than buying our own water back from bottled water corporations? It’s the fiscally responsible and environmentally responsible thing to do.
This is just one small example of the many creative ideas I hope will come out of the newly formed Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, which I am proud to be chairing. This commission is charged with developing a comprehensive, long-range water infrastructure finance plan for the municipalities of the commonwealth.
Given the economic realities of the present economy we will need to be creative and strategic in the investments we make and the ways we fund the desperately-needed improvements to our water infrastructure system, while also being environmentally responsible.
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, represents the Middlesex & Worcester District.
BY: Ben Forman
March 30, 2010
Senate President Therese Murray’s economic development bill scheduled for debate this Thursday includes a number of smart ideas. Topping the list are proposals to make state economic development spending more effective by:
Noticeably absent from the bill are provisions that provide for greater transparency in economic development spending. Without data to quantify the impact of state economic development investments, how will the office measure performance? And why should incoming administrations craft strategies for the future without the benefit of knowing what state investment has (or hasn’t) accomplished in the past?
In addition to providing data critical to informed decision-making, the Senate President’s bill could have also given an independent commission the ability to act on it. Unfortunately, the proposed sunset commission would not have oversight over the state’s economic development tax incentives, even though these tax credits consume many times more taxpayer dollars than state agencies.
Giving the commission these powers would make sense because past experience shows the legislature has little stomach to address economic development tax incentives that aren’t functioning properly. A 2004 report by Inspector General Gregory Sullivan, for instance, painted a dismal picture of the state’s Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP). Despite the unflattering report, no steps were taken to address the problem until late last year (and just before the Boston Globe published two stories based on two years of investigative reporting on the program). The legislature has proven similarly unwilling to take a hard look at the state’s film tax credit, which Michael Widmer recently labeled the worst tax credit he has seen in his 20 years at the Massachusetts Taxpayer’s Foundation.
Gov. Deval Patrick last year proposed greater disclosure about who is receiving state tax credits and their success in generating jobs. His initiative was spurred by reporting in CommonWealth magazine, particularly an opinion piece written by Greg LeRoy. The governor’s measure passed both branches of the Legislature, but stalled when Patrick opposed a Senate amendment that would have shielded the names of tax credit recipients from public view. Patrick has included his transparency proposal in his budget for next year.
Senator James Eldridge isn’t waiting to see what happens with the governor’s proposal. He intends to offer an amendment to the Senate President’s bill during Thursday’s debate that would provide strong disclosure requirements and make the data publicly available in a searchable database. This would bring Massachusetts more in line with such states as Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island that already have similar provisions in place.
The vote on this amendment will provide a good measure of whether the bill’s economic development planning components are a sincere effort to protect taxpayer investment.
Benjamin Forman is Research Director of MassINC
Acton, Mass. - The verdict is in: The MBTA is starting over from square one and has agreed to accept Acton’s plea for a new station with elevators, dual platforms and south side access.
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge made an announcement Thursday night that MBTA officials had scrapped their design for the South Acton train station and were starting over, using the parameters set by Acton town officials.
“We didn’t expect them to have such a change of heart,” Eldridge said. “There was just a great sense of victory.”
According to Eldridge, over 50 people packed the Public Safety Facility to rejoice at the announcement, also delivered by state representatives Cory Atkins and Jen Benson and Selectman Peter Berry, who has spearheaded the effort ever since the MBTA rolled out their original design last year.
Eldridge said the MBTA bent under the pressure from legislators and residents who called and petitioned. He also said the recent reorganization of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation likely played a role.
Critics had railed against what they an ugly and not user-friendly plan.
Atkins also pointed to a team effort, thanking Gov. Deval Patrick, Department of Transportation Secretary Jeff Mullan and the Acton community for their efforts.
“Everybody worked toward the same goal, and we were able to prevail. I’m still pinching myself,” Atkins said.
Eldridge estimated the new design to cost a little over $1 million more to build than the original design, and said it would take six to nine months to design before construction would begin.
By Jennifer Fenn Lefferts, Globe Correspondent | March 14, 2010
Responding to an outcry from residents and town officials against the design of the new South Acton commuter rail station, state officials have agreed to scrap one unpopular part of the proposal.
Instead of a single platform with a 600-foot-long concrete ramp on just one side of the tracks, the new station will have two platforms, an elevator, and access on both sides, said state Senator Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat.
“This is a great victory for the town of Acton, the disabled community, and commuters,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge, state Representative Jennifer Benson, and Selectmen Peter Berry met with Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials Monday and made the announcement to residents Thursday at a meeting of the South Acton Train Station Advisory Committee.
There’s been widespread opposition to the T station’s design since it was unveiled last spring. Residents and town officials say it doesn’t fit the historic character of South Acton. They also said the ramps were too long and steep and that it did not allow for platform access from the south side of the station.
The town submitted an alternative design but it was rejected. T officials said the proposal was too expensive and would delay construction.
But the town continued urging the state to reconsider, and in January the T agreed to tour the site and meet with residents. About 150 people showed up for the site tour and then residents submitted a petition with 600 signatures.
“I think when they realized we weren’t giving up and expected more cooperative planning, they were quick to turn around the plan,” said Benson, a Lunenburg Democrat.
Benson said what helped the town’s case was that it presented a viable alternative instead of simply rejecting the state’s design.
Eldridge said he thinks the site visit was the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” He said the large number of people who turned out for the site tour showed state officials that it wasn’t just a small group of neighbors opposing the plan.
“We weren’t sure what to expect and are overjoyed at the acceptance of the changes,” Eldridge said. “This is not just good for the neighborhood but people from Maynard and Stow who park to the south, for someone who is disabled, and people who appreciate the historic character of South Acton.”
Frank DePaola, the MBTA’s assistant general manager for design and construction, said the process worked they way it is supposed to - the T offered its design, received community input, and then responded to comments.
“The community process worked here in Acton,” he said. “We were urged by the governor’s office and representatives to revisit the design alternative.”
The new design will cost more, about $13 million compared to $10 million, but because bids have been coming in lower elsewhere in the project, thanks to the sluggish economy, the extra $3 million can be absorbed by the overall budget, said DePaola.
Berry, a member of the South Acton Train Station Advisory Committee, said the new design is a far better fit for the community. The station is adjacent to the South Acton Historic District, which includes Colonial-era buildings and the recently renovated Exchange Hall, a former general store.
“I want to credit the T with listening and responding to our concerns,” Berry said.
The town’s alternative proposal calls for an elevator and two platforms linked by a walkway. Supporters say the design would provide easier access for riders with physical disabilities, and for moving between the inbound and outbound sides of the tracks, as well as be more aesthetically pleasing.
The MBTA’s plan called for an elevated center-island platform, reached via ramps and a walkway from the north parking lot crossing one set of the tracks. The ramps and walkway would have a roof and side enclosures to block the elements.
The final design was supposed to be done by the summer, with construction completed by December 2012. But officials said the change delays that timetable.
Berry said there are also some other issues that need to be addressed. He said the T raised concerns about the maintenance of the elevator and asked the town to be responsible for the cost. Berry said the town will consider the request.
“We still have a lot of details to work out, but I think the result will be much better than the original proposal,” Berry said.
The new station is part of a$200 million renovation to the Fitchburg commuter rail line, the oldest and slowest in the state. The two-year project is intended to improve speed, service, and reliability by adding double tracks along some sections, updating existing track, and improving communication and signaling systems along the 50-mile corridor. The plan also calls for renovating the Littleton commuter rail station.
Lisa Kocian of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.
Campaign Constituent
Congratulations to Marlborough residents on an historic week commemorating city's 350th Anniversary - looking forward to Labor Day parade #
