Civil Municipal - April 2024

PAVING THE WAY FOR 2024 AND BEYOND Along with its social and economic transition, Easthampton is undergoing some physical changes, including a major federally funded transportation project. The city is wrapping up a $7-million construction endeavor that saw a main road in the upper downtown district excavated to replace its wooden pipes with a more modern setup. That effort should be all squared away come summertime, LaChapelle says. The city also received an additional $13-million grant to re-do the roads in the downtown district, which pretties up the strip but also brings it up to grade for modern traffic. “The sleepy town where you can kind of still see how a horse and buggy would make their way through downtown really doesn’t suit the traffic that we get,” LaChapelle says, adding that Easthampton receives a healthy mix of residential and commercial traffic on its main streets. In order to establish a broad base for city functionality, LaChapelle is waiting on an additional $1 million for water repair upgrades on city highways, plus the mayor has plans to improve bicycle lanes and overhaul a particularly tricky intersection in Easthampton that’s seen its traffic increase by 50%. Easthampton will look dramatically different by 2030, the estimated completion date for these substantial infrastructure upgrades, however the town won’t lose its authentic feel. Mayor LaChapelle paints a picture of a cozy Northeastern haven, where Easthampton makes impressive strides in affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and accessibility. Under LaChapelle’s watch, major steps toward that goal are well underway. Live. Work. Play. oneferryproject.com 77 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 04 EASTHAMPTON, MA