The Massachusetts Gaming Commission last week approved of nearly million to spend to mitigate traffic and parking problems that the building of the MGM Springfield and the Wynn Boston Harbor are creating.
For example, the MGC approved $31,500 to pay for a valet parking program in Springfield for persons who work within a few blocks of construction and who have lost hundreds of previously available parking on and off the street. The original valet program was launched a year ago and only authorized through the end of this year—while it was evaluated. The additional grant will keep the program going until a large parking structure is completed in 2018.
Springfield Parking Authority Interim Director Tom Moore told the commission, “I think it was a good common-sense solution to what was clearly an impact felt by a small group of businesses right at the epicenter of the construction.”
One of the businesses impacted the most by the construction is the Caring Health Center, which is located across the street from the building site. Caring Health’s CEO Tania Barber commented that many patients had a hard time making appointments. The valet parking service was created to help people such as that.
The city and the casino recently announced a partnership to spend $7 million on street paving, sidewalk repair, improvement to intersections and other projects in anticipation of the casino opening.
The Community Mitigation Fund, which the commission controls, is funded by casino license fees. It started with $14 million in 2015.
