Healthy communities keep moving forward. That’s why the Tritown Committee and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) chose VHB to help spur economic development and address failing infrastructure in a heavily trafficked region through Bedford, Burlington, and Billerica, Massachusetts. The three towns formed the Tritown Committee and looked to VHB to lead a future-focused project to identify transportation deficiencies and master plan neighborhood and economic growth.
VHB’s involvement with the Committee began in the 1980s with the preparation of a transportation master plan along the main corridors for the three towns: Crosby Drive, the Middlesex Turnpike, Route 62, and Network Drive. The master plan included traffic volume evaluations to facilitate future demand. Our experience in navigating complicated public and private funding challenges resulted in the creation of a betterment district to assist with design, permitting, and land acquisitions for the project. This critical funding allowed the team to reach project goals not covered by transportation-allocated state funds.
The final phases of the project roadway included widening and drainage systems using best practices such as water quality swales, water quality units, and detention ponds. The project has spurred smart growth throughout the region such as residential housing, mixed-use developments, and affordable housing within walking distance to quality access to jobs.
