Town Awarded Grant of Nearly $2M for Roundabout at Amity Street and University Drive
Design for proposed roundabout at Amity Street and University Drive. Photo: amherstma.gov
Source: amherstma.gov
The Town of Amherst has been awarded a $1,940,000 grant from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support the development of a roundabout at the intersection of University Drive and Amity Street. This grant is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration award of $161 million for 313 projects to support local economic development in 171 communities across Massachusetts through the Community One Stop for Growth programs.
“This significant MassWorks grant will provide the bulk of the funds needed to build a safer, more welcoming intersection at University Drive and Amity Street,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “Key to receiving the grant was the promise of private investment to create much needed housing and commercial space. Our partnership with the University provided a compelling proposal. I thank Governor Healy, Lt. Governor Driscoll, Secretary Hao and the entire administration for making this significant investment in the Town of Amherst.”
This intersection of University Drive and Amity Street serves as the gateway to the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts and downtown Amherst. It is close to retail stores, restaurants, and the University’s McGuirk Stadium and Mullins Center – two of the largest sports and entertainment venues in Western Massachusetts. The proposed plan calls for replacement of the existing four-way signalized intersection with a well-designed, full-size roundabout.
“We are very pleased with the partnership between the university and Town of Amherst to invest in this strategic roundabout at a major southern gateway to the campus. The project will reduce travel congestion and related vehicle emissions while improving safety at this heavily used intersection, particularly during sporting or entertainment events at McGuirk Stadium and the Mullins Center,” said Shane Conklin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities & Campus Services at UMass Amherst. “We thank Governor Healey and Secretary Hao for their commitment to this important infrastructure upgrade.”
The Town of Amherst and the University of Massachusetts worked collaboratively to plan, design, and engineer these infrastructure improvements. The University provided $75,000 for the engineering and design of the roundabout. The $1.9 million MassWorks Infrastructure grant from the state will be supported by town investments of staff time, procurement services, engineering oversight, and additional road funds.
“We are extremely excited about this grant as it comes at the same time the town is considering a zoning overlay for University Drive,” said Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek. “If approved this initiative will encourage in-fill development and greater density providing more housing and commercial space along this important corridor.”
For example, a new mixed-use development at 422 Amity Street is currently in the permitting process which includes 111 residential units and close to 20,000 sq ft of commercial space. If approved by the town’s permitting boards, the development will provide commercial space and housing along this corridor to the University, which will add to the town’s tax base.
“The Roberts Group has been, and remains, committed to building for the future of Amherst,” said Roberts Group Principal Barry Roberts. “422 Amity Street is a great opportunity to build the residential housing that Amherst is clearly in need of with ample ground floor commercial space. This project brings a vibrant, fresh, and attractive development to the entrance of the flagship UMass Campus and to our downtown. We see this as an amazing opportunity for Amherst and we feel 422 will be a stunning addition to our growing community. The state support to fund the roundabout at this busy intersection makes this project viable and our plan is to break ground in spring of 2025.”
The Executive Office of Economic Development’s MassWorks Infrastructure Program is a competitive grant program that provides the largest and most flexible source of capital funds to municipalities and other eligible public entities primarily for public infrastructure projects that support and accelerate housing production, spur private development, and create jobs throughout the commonwealth.
This is great news, I look forward to the improved traffic flow and hopefully it can calm the traffic racing to make or leave the light.
The Swift Way is a multi-use path along the east side of University Drive, providing cyclists and pedestrians a connection between the Norwottuck/MassachusettsCentralRailTrail and the UMass campus.
Whatever one thinks about how this proposed rotary will “calm” traffic, it’s vital to ensure thatall users — not just cars — are well-accommodated here.
I couldn’t agree more and traffic circles statistically improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. The Swift Way crossing is incorporated in the pedestrian crossing along with an island, so one would expect an improvement there. The new circles on Triangle/E.Pleasant and University/Fearing appear to be working well for everyone. The proposed design looks well thought out, although I would like the pedestrian islands to be a little bigger. The existing pedestrian/cycle ways are in poor condition and the circle plus new construction will be a big improvement.
Regarding calming, I am in the second closest house to this intersection and use this intersection as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver regularly. I also hear the noise it generates and witness cars speeding in all directions to “make the light” or hard accelerate out of it, especially along Amity St. I am really looking forward to this circle reducing congestion along with driver anxiety/aggressiveness so there is less speeding and dangerous behaviour.