Northampton’s Main Street is one of the top five percent most crash-prone downtowns in Massachusetts. We need to fix that. Crosswalks stretch nearly 100 feet, endangering pedestrians. We need to shorten them. Beneath our feet, century-old water and sewer lines are failing. We need to replace them.
Charming as the Main Street of Northampton’s past may be, history doesn’t keep the city of today safe, its water clean, or its businesses thriving. The Picture Main Street project will. It will shorten crossings, some nearly in half. It will replace underground utilities before they collapse. And it will calm traffic in one of the most dangerous corridors in the state.
I agree completely with those who say city funds shouldn’t be wasted on things we don’t need. Fortunately, that’s not the case here. The vast majority of the project is paid for by state and federal funds, given that it’s a Massachusetts Department of Transportation project (and priority). The city’s share is small, largely drawn from one-time, federal pandemic relief funds.
This plan was expertly shaped through years of public meetings, surveys, and community input. It reflects our values while preparing us for the future.
We’re not picturing Main Street. We’re saving it. And if we don’t, we’ll stay trapped in the past: stuck with dangerous roads and crossings, crumbling pipes, and a downtown that serves yesterday more than today.
Let’s be clear: this project is recognized by the state and funded by the state as a priority for Massachusetts. It’s an extraordinary opportunity for Northampton, and I’m glad we’re seizing it.
Sam Masinter
Northampton