WORCESTER—The Worcester City Council was updated on road repairs across the city, after receiving an informational report from Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility Stephen Rolle and Public Works Commissioner John Westerling on the current status of several projects.
Rolle said the streets listed in the report represent all current projects still ongoing.
Major corridor projects, including part of Burncoat Street, Park Ave. and Stafford Street are at 95%, 20% and 32% completion. Lake Avenue, Massasoit Road and two sections of Chandler Street are all in design phases, and milling and paving of part of Grove Street was recently completed.
Fifty pavement preservation projects on the list are 100% complete, and two others are at 90% and 50%. Forty-one projects requiring full-depth reconstruction are in various levels of completion. Twenty-four projects are expected to be started in 2026.
Only three of the 33 sidewalk projects are not yet complete, and 13 safety and Complete Streets projects are in various stages, with nine of them at 80% or more.
Resident Gary Hunter said he was a little overwhelmed by the list.
““It seems kind of daunting,” he said. “They got way behind on this.”
Council member Candy Mero-Carlson had questions about projects that were previously approved as part a two-year plan, and which projects were started when.
“Honestly, looking at this, there’s no way to identify which of the streets are in that two-year pick that we talked about,” Mero-Carlson said, citing an example of a street that was on the list for 7 years.
Rolle responded that his department can easily add the dates to the list.
“That would be easy enough to do,” he said. “We can both denote the years that they’ve been selected, as well as have a status for each of the prior years’ selections until they fall off the list.”
The city also began using a new, data-driven pavement management program, to aid with decisions and cost-effectiveness. The system helps evaluate roads and intersections, to help determine which are in the most need of repair and/or reconstruction.
Projects include more than 20 permanent speed humps that are being implemented to add to the 80 the city already has, and the projects are slated to be finished by the end of October.
Improvements to Country Club Road are also on tap to start this month, supported by a grand from the MassDOT Compete Streets program, including raised crosswalks, traffic calming and ADA improvements, and a two-way bikeway.
Rubberized Chip Seals will be applied to 50 streets, improving the riding surface and extending the life of street still in good condition. Sidewalk improvements will be made to Sunderland Road, improving access to Roosevelt School, including rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at crosswalks.
The council also declared Sept. 30 to Oct. 5” A Week Without Driving,” with a proclamation highlighting public transportation, walking, cycling and other alternatives to cars for getting to work, school, shopping, etc.
Karin Valentine Goins of WalkBike Worcester, which is promoting the challenge, said the goal of the week is to create awareness of life without a car, which is what many Worcester residents and commuters regularly experience.
“We invite people to experience, reflect and share what life without driving is like,” she said. “A significant percentage of the population does not drive. Some are by choice, but most are non-drivers due to age – young or old – disability, income, or other barriers.”
It’s also asking participants to share their experience of taking trips without a vehicle, including them on social media with the hashtags #weekwithoutdriving and #weekwihoutdrivingworcester.
She added that the week doesn’t necessarily mean people should not drive for an entire week, but to at some point, make a trip or even a partial trip, without driving.
“In Worcester, have multiple alternatives to driving, Goins said. “Walking is always free. The RTA is currently fare-free and apps can tell you what routes to choose, and we have the new, red bike share program.”
Steve Smith, a veteran reporter with 17 years at The Hartford Courant, now brings his passion for photojournalism to Worcester. An award-winning photographer, he has covered major events like U.S. soccer, pro football, and UConn basketball. He is also the official photographer for the Miss Massachusetts competition and works as a realtor. Contact him at steve@stevephotographysmith.com
