Community Compact Agreements will Benefit Bedford and Several Nearby Communities

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

Earlier this week Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito signed a Community Compact agreement with officials from the municipalities of Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Lexington, Lowell, Tewksbury, and Tyngsboro. Several Bedford officials attended the ceremonies in Lowell. The agreement ensure mutual accountability and sharing of best practices.

“We are excited to announce new partnerships between the Commonwealth and these municipalities,” said Lieutenant Governor Polito. “We look forward to working with city and town officials to find answers to the transportation challenges as they relate to job opportunities and economic development along the Rt. 3 corridor. It is this type of regional approach that we support and encourage at the municipal level. In addition, we will be providing assistance in key areas such as cyber-security and energy-efficiency.”

Richard Reed, Bedford’s Town Manager and President of the Middlesex 3 Coalition, added, “Since improving our regional and local transportation systems is a high priority for Bedford and its partner Middlesex 3 municipalities, the Community Compact Program presents an ideal opportunity for our local governments to advance these efforts.  Through this program Middlesex 3 will receive state assistance that will help us identify ideas for improving the transportation system that would serve our businesses and residents.”

State Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) noted, “I am proud, but not surprised, that the governor and lieutenant governor have recognized the important contribution of the Middlesex 3 Coalition.  It is dedicated to the principal that municipalities working together will benefit the entire region.  Burlington and Bedford’s economic growth have helped lower unemployment in Chelmsford, Lowell and other sales, and increased home sales in other towns. When one of us wins, we all win.”

Selectman Margot Fleischman said, “I was delighted to attend the signing ceremony with Lt. Governor Polito this afternoon in Lowell. Bedford’s Community Compact will support our efforts to adopt a Complete Streets Policy and to improve our business zoning along the Great Road. And through our participation in the Middlesex 3 Coalition, we have also entered into a compact to address our regional transportation needs. These compacts recognize that we are working hard to move the ball on initiatives that will really make a difference to the lives of people who live and work in our town,  that the State will be our partner in this important work.”

Two of the Community Compact projects announced this week are particularly relevant to Bedford and the Middlesex 3 Coalition:

• Transportation and Citizen Safety – Complete Streets for Bedford and Lexington: In an effort to make their communities more walkable, Bedford and Lexington will seek funding through the Commonwealth’s Complete Streets Grant Program, which gives preference to cities and towns that have entered into a Community Compact.
• Regional Transportation along the Middlesex 3 corridor:  The Middlesex 3’s Regional Transportation initiative has been established to address existing transportation challenges for these communities that hinder economic development and job opportunities. A Community Compact grant will provide assistance to the municipalities, Regional Planning Agencies, and Regional Transit Agencies, allowing for a collaborative approach to the development of recommendations and implementation strategies.

Additional Nearby Community Compact Projects

Community Compacts are one tool the administration is utilizing to strengthen the partnership between cities and towns and the Commonwealth. By entering a Community Compact, a community agrees to implement self-selected best practices. As part of this partnership, the Commonwealth agrees to fulfill a set of commitments and works to provide assistance for a community based on their chosen best practice.

Through its Compact, the other municipalities that have chosen to work with the Commonwealth toward implementing the following best practices include:

• Transportation and Citizen Safety – A Safe and Mobile Future for Older Drivers: Working with the growing elders is a high priority in Burlington. MasssDOT and the RMV will partner with the town on elder driver safety.
• Housing and Economic Development: Via assistance from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED), the Commonwealth will work to advance the vision and goals for housing and economic development that Lowell and Tewksbury have . Also, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development will work with Tyngsboro as they seek to enhance and encourage economic development opportunities through an updated Economic Development Plan.  Lastly, EOHED will work with Bedford as they begin to create a zoning strategy for the Town’s main commercial corridor.
• Technology – Cyber-Security: The Commonwealth will provide Lexington with a Community Compact grant to hire a consultant to provide a vulnerability assessment, penetration testing and support in filling gaps in their cyber security strategy, policies and procedures.
• Energy/Environment – Energy Efficiency & Renewables: The Commonwealth will provide Lowell with a Community Compact grant to purchase Data Analytics/Management software to help the city implement the criteria of having “documented and measureable energy use reduction goals” as part of its Green Community status.

For more information or to apply for a Community Compact go to www.mass.gov/ccc.