INAUGURAL METROWEST FOOD COLLABORATIVE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST: On a snowy Monday morning, I joined fellow MetroWest legislators, non-profit groups, and community leaders for an inaugural food access, equity, and justice summit in Ashland.

Sponsored and hosted by the MetroWest Food Collaborative (“The Collaborative”), led by Program Coordinator Kali Coughlan of the Hudson Health Department.

Great to join Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis and hear from Congressman Jim McGovern, Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Jojo and Mabriely from Voices of the Community & Nathalya of Discovering Hidden Gems, Lino Covarrubias of JFS of Metrowest, Jeanne Sherlock, MetroWest YMCA, and Kali Coughlan of Hudson Public Health.

The Collaborative’s mission is to actively join with the communities they serve to strengthen the local food system by partnering with local food pantries and programs to provide innovative services and by advocating for policies and programs that support equitable access to nourishing, affordable, and culturally appropriate food.

WEDNESDAY EVENING: VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFO MEETING ON I-495/I-90 INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT --

MassDOT has scheduled a Virtual Public Information Meeting on the 75% Design of the Fruit Street Bridge & Ramp ES/SE (I-90 EB to I-495 SB and I-495 SB to I-90 EB) improvements on January 25 at 6:00 pm.

The meeting will begin with a presentation by the project team. Attendees can view plans for the Fruit Street Bridge & Ramp ES/SE and ask questions.

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Register in Advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_heVjM-L0SvGJ0bRvTMBdqw

All residents, abutters, local business owners, and interested commuters are invited to attend. All attendees who sign into the meeting and provide an email address will be entered into the project’s email database to receive project updates.



About the Project

For years, the I-495/I-90 Interchange has experienced traffic demands exceeding its capacity. On an average day, this interchange carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles traveling on both I-90 and I-495, with approximately half of all trucking entering eastern Massachusetts. The deficient geometry concentrates movements through the former toll plaza area, resulting in queuing onto the interstate mainlines and crash rates twice the statewide average.



Through this project, we will improve the movement of people and goods through the area - today and into the future. The project will replace the interchange, eliminate the old toll booth area and weaving areas, improve ramp spacing, acceleration, and deceleration lanes, and add an auxiliary lane from I-495 Northbound to Route 9. New bridges will be constructed on I-495 over I-90, on I-495 and I-90 over the MBTA/CSX/Amtrak lines, on I-495 Northbound over Flanders Road, and on Fruit Street. The project design is taking place now through December 2024 with project completion scheduled for June 2027.



Stay Informed

If someone you know would like to subscribe to receive project updates, meeting notices, and traffic impact advisories, they can do so here.



Project email: 495-90Improvements@state.ma.us

Project website: www.mass.gov/massdot/495-90interchange

Today we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In fact, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a national day of service. On this day, Americans are encouraged to make a positive impact on our communities, like MLK did through his actions decades ago.
Looking for more inspiration? Read how Boston is honoring Dr. King's legacy: