Patrick Makes Local Connection

In an edit board meeting with the Sentinel last week, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick said he favors a Route 2 connector to Downtown Fitchburg.

Patrick talks about the potential benefits and how it might be the state's best way to help the city. He also threw in a looming caveat:

"It's got to happen. The question that you ought to ask and for which I don't have an answer yet is in what order it happens with our other transportation needs."

Ouch. You can take Patrick's support and comments in a number of ways, but here's our take: "Good idea, but get in line."

There are tons of transportation projects floating around state government, including commuter rail improvements and extentions (almost every line), highway "connectors" (the Berkshires have wanted a highway to Pittsfield from the Pike since forever), and inner-Boston improvements and extentions (including the North and South stations connector, extended Green Line, and "urban ring" subway line). Forget about stuff like the Concord Rotary revamping.

So, where does the Fitchburg connector, which would cost well into the nine figures (do I hear 10?) and directly effect one community of about 40,000 people, rate on that list? Who knows, but you'd have to think it wouldn't be Number 1.

If the state starts dropping major transportation dollars around, it will turn into a frenzy as every corner of the state looks to make its project happen.

Patrick doesn't say where this particular project would fit on his priority list, and that's a key part of all of this. Support is nice, but a project like a Route 2 connector will need not just support, but a fervent, almost fanatical backing to become a reality.

There was a lot of comment talk last week about a Route 2 connector, most of it realistically pessimistic. Patrick's support probably shouldn't change that view too much.