Worcester, MA – The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) is pleased to announce the selection of STANTEC as the lead consultant for the Vernon Street / I-290 Interchange Transportation Study. This vital planning effort, supported by a $650,000 allocation from CMRPC, aims to reimagine one of Worcester’s most critical and historically impacted transportation corridors.
The construction of Interstate 290 in the mid-20th century dramatically altered the City of Worcester, demolishing homes and businesses while creating a physical and socioeconomic divide through the city’s core. The Vernon Street Bridge, one of the few surviving connections across I-290, links the historic neighborhoods of Vernon Hill, Union Hill, Green Island, and the rapidly developing Canal District. However, the aging bridge and limited connectivity continue as barriers to opportunity, mobility, and community cohesion.
STANTEC has teamed with RVA, Utile, and Speck-Dempsey to deliver a highly inclusive and technically sound alternative for “bridging the divide” that I-290 has made through the heart of the neighborhoods adjacent to the Vernon Street bridge. The consulting team approach is to position the residents as co-creators of their own future, ensuring that those most impacted by past harms are prioritized in decision-making, workforce development, and economic investment. The Vernon Street reconnection is not just about infrastructure but about restoring agency, fostering economic mobility, and ensuring that all Worcester residents, particularly historically underrepresented communities, are active stakeholders in shaping what comes next.
With a planned start in June 2025 and completion anticipated by September 30, 2026, the study will include robust community engagement, comprehensive transportation and land use analysis, and the development of innovative conceptual alternatives. Key objectives include:
- Reconnecting communities divided by I-290 through improved mobility, access, and street grid restoration.
- Advancing social prosperity by reducing barriers to economic, educational, and civic opportunity.
- Supporting City and community goals, such as affordable housing, expanded park space, and inclusive public realm design.
- Improving multimodal safety and reducing conflicts between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
- Enhancing environmental outcomes, including stormwater management, noise and air pollution mitigation, and heat island reduction.
- Identifying viable development and infrastructure alternatives that reflect the community’s vision and needs.
The study area encompasses key Worcester neighborhoods and transportation hubs, including Kelley Square, Madison Street (MA-122), the WRTA Hub and Maintenance Facility, CSX Intermodal Port, and the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Visitor Center.
STANTEC brings national expertise in community-driven, interdisciplinary planning and design to this effort. Their team will work closely with CMRPC, the City of Worcester, and a wide array of stakeholders to ensure the project aligns with local aspirations and sets a path toward long-term investment and implementation.
For more information and updates about the Vernon Street / I-290 Interchange Transportation Study, visit: Central Mass Regional Planning Commission – CMRPC
Founded by the Legislature in 1963, CMRPC provides a variety of services to its constituencies and brings a regional perspective to planning and development. One of 13 Regional Planning Agencies in Massachusetts, CMRPC serves the City of Worcester and 39 surrounding communities in the southern two-thirds of Worcester County. CMRPC’s programs include Transportation, Regional Collaboration and Community Planning, and Geographic Information Systems.
