Page 10 - BusinessWest May 16, 2022

Community Spotlight
Westfield Sees Progress on Several Fronts
By Mark Morris
Four months into his new job, Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe says he loves his work.
“I’m able to make an impact in areas that I wouldn’t have thought I could; the job requires
a lot of problem-solving, something I’m used
to doing,”said McCabe, who, after serving for
36 years in various capacities with the Westfield Police Department, unseated incumbent Donald Humason in last November’s election.
The same two men squared off in 2019, to
a different result, obviously. McCabe ran then, and tried again last year because he thought he could use his leadership skills and ability to build relationships to move the city forward in several key areas. Early in his first year in office, he can already point to some progress and the potential for much more.
He starts downtown, where he’s made a point of visiting every business from Park Square to the Great River Bridge. And as he did so, he visited some that opened just months and even weeks ago, a sign of resilience and growth in a central business district that has struggled for many years.
“I’ve spoken with all the store owners, and I take part in a coffee hour with the chamber every month,” said McCabe, adding that these listening
tours are educational in many respects; they let him know what businesses are concerned about, a list topped by traffic.
That’s one topic in McCabe’s wheelhouse, as his last few years with the police department were as traffic commission chairman.
One major traffic issue involves entering and exiting the Mass Turnpike in Westfield. McCabe is working with the Mass. Department of Trans- portation (MassDOT) to create a new eastbound entrance to the turnpike known as a slip ramp. This would greatly benefit truck traffic while at the same time, relieve much of the backup at the turnpike entrance.
“The idea is that once you get to the top of North Elm Street, you take a right and you don’t have to stop until you get to Boston,” McCabe said adding that the ramp would reduce wait times for north bound traffic by 66%. “That’s a big number.”
It would also cut in half the wait times for vehicles trying to exit the turnpike from the west during rush periods, where vehicles are often lined up for a half mile trying to access the exit ramp.
While the slip ramp has not yet received for- mal approval, McCabe said feedback from the state so far has been good. “Fundamentally, there
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10 MAY 16, 2022
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest
Westfield at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1669
POPULATION: 41,552
AREA: 47.4 square miles
COUNTY: Hampden
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $18.88 COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $36.55
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $45,240 MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $55,327
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Mayor, City Council
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Westfield State University, Baystate Noble Hospital, Mestek Inc., Savage Arms Inc., Advance Manufacturing Co.
* Latest information available