Boston officials and Massachusetts Transportation Department representatives met on Thursday to confer about ways on how congestions at Sullivan Square to be alleviated. More traffic issues are expected to occur in the area once gambling operator Wynn Resorts completes its casino project in neighboring Everett.
Back in June, Boston officials refused to attend such meeting. It is important to note that the city opposes the construction of the casino resort and has filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in an attempt to prevent the project from being completed. Officials said that they would skip the June meeting due to the pending litigation.
However, the Thursday meeting, chaired by Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, was attended by state transportation and city officials, which some interpreted as a potential thaw in the relations between Boston and Wynn Resorts.
City Mayor Marty Walsh and Steve Wynn have been exchanging words for some time now. After yesterday’s meeting, Mayor Walsh released a statement in which he noted that Boston had previously informed Ms. Pollack about the irregularities in Wynn Resorts’ proposed plan for improvements in the square traffic as well as the traffic at the nearby Rutherford Avenue. Both locations are in the city’s Charlestown neighborhood.
However, it seems that Boston officials are ready to work together with the gambling operator in order to come up with “a mutually beneficial plan”, which will address the traffic issues that may occur once the Everett casino is fully operational.
Ms. Pollack said in a statement that she considered the meeting a “productive exchange of ideas” and that all participants provided useful information that would help the agency develop its comments on Wynn Resorts’ proposal for the establishment of the $1.7-billion hotel and casino resort.
The Massachusetts Transportation Department as well as other state agencies are expected to submit comments on the casino plan for an important environmental permit the gambling operator needs in order to be able to proceed with the construction of the property. Massachusetts officials have up until August 25 to provide those comments.
They are to be reviewed by Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton and he is expected to announce his decision whether the permit will be issued late in August or sometime in September.
Attorney General Maura Healey said that she was glad Boston officials attended the Thursday meeting. However, she pointed out that the crucial permit should not be issued before a “long-term plan” for the mitigation of traffic issues is presented.
