Worcester Mayor Orders Plan for Easier Road Use

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Monday, June 11, 2012

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Mayor Joseph M. Petty wants to improve signage and the use of the Route 146/ Blackstone River Parkway and Quinsigamond Avenue Entrances to downtown. The mayor, along with District 3 City Councilor George Russell and District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera, recently filed an order asking City Manager Michael O’Brien to develop recommendations for these plans.

An earlier announcement by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) to renovate bridges south of the city provides an opportunity to update signage. As a result, according to a statement from Petty, visitors driving on the Mass Pike will be alerted to the access that the Route 146/Blackstone River Parkway provides to downtown.

“I feel this is a great opportunity to showcase this entrance to our city and to provide an improved understanding of this route with the current investments we are seeing along Quinsigamond Avenue, such as (Worcester Business Development Corporation's) investment at the old JJ Nissen Building and WRTA’s future plans to relocate garage operations there,” Petty said. “Improved knowledge would enhance and compliment the economic development projects we see in that corridor.”

Petty emphasized the importance of resurrecting the Blackstone River Parkway as a brand, saying: “This name has been underutilized since its opening. The use and branding of this name can have an added benefit to defining this southern gateway to our city.”

Russell expressed his approval of the plan, saying: “Anything we can do to bring and support small businesses to this part of the city would be welcomed by me.”

Added Rivera: “As we move forward in our city, we want to be able to continue to support our business. This will be able to do just that in this area.”
Councilors are expected to discuss the mayor’s order at their meeting Tuesday night at 7 in the Esther Howland Chamber on the third floor of City Hall.