Council accepts MassDOT Center City connector grant amid urgency over aging infrastructure

The Holyoke City Council voted on Nov. 18 to accept a MassDOT Center City Connector grant and the project agreement after finance committee discussion and a letter from city engineering staff. Councilors stressed urgency because of an aging water main near the project area and prior local investments in design work.

Councilor Sullivan (Finance Chair) summarized committee discussion and the city letter, noting previous local investments and the scale of the proposed work. She said the city had already invested roughly $1,000,000 from Chapter 90 funds toward design efforts and that construction estimates should be interpreted in light of MassDOT engineering. Sullivan warned that delaying acceptance could worsen street and infrastructure risks, calling the project a potential “ticking time bomb under the streets.”

Committee members also discussed the contingency exposure if the project exceeds the budgeted amount; Sullivan said the city’s Stabilization (rainy‑day) fund would be an option if the project were to exceed the threshold that the council would otherwise cover.

The council approved the motion to accept the MassDOT grant package by roll-call vote. Councilors said the water‑department work and project language are described in the committee letter and asked staff to continue close oversight of potential overruns.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the grant acceptance and coordinate with MassDOT and the water department; councilors asked for ongoing communication about cost risks and contingencies.