about a dozen potential tenants, from manufacturers to a water distributor. Once that building is half full, it will trigger the next building, which will be 450,000 square feet.” Located at the interchange of Routes 140 and 24, the site offers strategic access to Boston, Providence, and Cape Cod, a competitive advantage in today’s logistics-driven economy. This prime location positions Taunton to capitalize on the growing demand for distribution centers fueled by e-commerce growth. The city has developed a coordinated workforce pipeline to support this economic expansion, bringing together educational institutions and employment services.“We have a Voc-Tech high school here, Bristol Community College, and the Workforce Development Bureau,” notes Mayor O’Connell.“They communicate, collaborate, and meet monthly so schools understand the needs of businesses and can fill the pipeline with properly trained workers.” INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS Taunton’s approach to municipal infrastructure highlights the growing recognition among mid-sized cities that systematic capital planning is essential for sustainable development. “We created a capital improvement program in 2022, the first Capital Improvement Program the city has ever had,” Mayor O’Connell states.“We knew it was important to have a CIP so we could strategically address longstanding issues that have gone unaddressed for decades, and we also knew how important it was to fund it.” The financial commitment is substantial, with the current fiscal year allocating approximately $40 million to capital improvements, including $7.2 million for roads and sidewalks and $7.3 million for water and sewer systems. “That will bring us to paving about 20% of the city, keeping in mind that Taunton has over 300 miles of roadway,” explains Mayor O’Connell, an aggressive paving schedule exceeds the national average for comparable cities. 210 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05 TAUNTON, MA
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