Possible funding for the study of a long-delayed circumferential highway was the contentious topic at the Budget Committee’s most recent public hearing.
If approved, the town would spend $200,075 on engineering design and feasibility studies, about 20% of the total cost, with the rest coming from state and federal funding. Should the Hudson Boulevard project be deemed feasible, the project would still need to be separately planned and paid for by Hudson at a later date.
“I have a long history of not voting in favor of projects which don’t exist, or at least haven’t existed for the last 50 years, certainly don’t exist today, and certainly won’t exist 50 years from now,” said Vice Chair, Bill Cole. “To waste $200,000 of the taxpayer money seems ludicrous to me.”
Selectmen, Dave Morin, defended the Article, pointing out that “the state is willing to cover 80% of this” and that it is nothing more than a feasibility study, adding that the Board of Selectmen supported it only “to see if this roadway is feasible, and if it can be done.”
After decades of debate over whether to build the highway, Morin hoped that a feasibility study might bring an end to the discussion.
Shawn Jasper stated that “Back in the 90’s it [the circumferential highway project] was not permitted due to wetlands by the Clinton Administration at that time.”
The question of “who owns the land adjacent to the Hudson Boulevard,” was a concern to committee member, Kathy Leary, as the number of curb cuts, cross streets and businesses along this round may make it less efficient.
Most of the property on the right-of-way for the road is owned by the state, with the possibility of having the land sold back to the town of Hudson as surplus if a study finds the highway unfeasible, is the assumption of Jasper. The Circumferential Highway feasibility study is part of the most recent draft of the Transportation Master Plan under its official name The Hudson Boulevard proposal.
“The original intent was to build a highway at first, but that was too expensive. So, the idea now is to build a boulevard, basically a two-way street, just like Albuquerque Avenue in Lichfield, maybe with a multi-use path for pedestrians/recreational use,” explained Town Engineer, Elvis Dhima. “The intent of this project is to provide relief to the south end from Lowell Road to 111.”
Originally, the plan was to have a bridge bypassing several roads in town while the modified Boulevard proposal will be at grade, with collecting traffic from side roads, and will have 5 crossings, according to Dhima. Many details would be up to the state.
“Is it new that the town has to pay for any of it?” asked Committee member, Leary.
The Town Engineer said if the road is found to be feasible, Hudson would need to pay for a percentage of it, although the exact numbers were unclear. Dhima seemed to think state and federal funding for up to 90% of the cost was a possibility.
Skeptical members of the Budget Committee were unconvinced with the apparent uncertainties.
“All this is going to do is take another million dollars and put it in the pocket of some third-rate consulting company!” said Cole.
Despite support from the Board of Selectmen, the Budget Committee voted against recommending funding for a Hudson Boulevard feasibility study.
The topic will appear as Warrant Article 10 in the March election.
