State approves funding for $9M footbridge over Rt. 1 near Gillette Stadium

[WhiZa]

They eliminated lots. Try to park in private lots $50 either North or South of the stadium. I park in P10 for $40 and it takes forever to get out.

I parked at the Best Value Inn for just $40 (huge lot in the back), and at the Golds Gym they were only charging $30. Oddly enough, closer to 495 they were charging $50. Didn't make any sense.

Anyone's best bet when coming from 495 is to park here (little less then a mile walk) and then get on Rt 140 on the way home.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I parked at the Best Value Inn for just $40 (huge lot in the back), and at the Golds Gym they were only charging $30. Oddly enough, closer to 495 they were charging $50. Didn't make any sense.

Anyone's best bet when coming from 495 is to park here (little less then a mile walk) and then get on Rt 140 on the way home.

Good advice (Rt 140 too) worth re-posting

 

[weswelker#83]

Cool , my State is helping Mr Kraft , who is ranked #468 of all The World's Billionaires.





#468 Robert Kraft
#468 Robert Kraft - The World's Billionaires 2009 - Forbes.com



How many kids with no health insurance from poor neighborhoods ?

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Thanx good looking out. Are tickets hard to come by?

 

[muzz]

I thought there was going to be NEW exit ramps/direct access from the highway or something like that?

I could have sworn that the infrastructure was to be put in place to avoid these massive traffic issues, I'm just not certain if Krafty was supposed to foot the bill or the State was helping/providing it.

BTW, I don't care how much Krafty has spent on HIS stadium and the rest of that enormous place, he's a multibillionaire, and that is one of his businesses.

I don't see that as a reason to spend 9 million of Taxpayers cash to help alleviate HIS problem, you know a problem HIS CASH COW is causing.

 

[alvinnf]

I thought there was going to be NEW exit ramps/direct access from the highway or something like that?

I could have sworn that the infrastructure was to be put in place to avoid these massive traffic issues, I'm just not certain if Krafty was supposed to foot the bill or the State was helping/providing it.

BTW, I don't care how much Krafty has spent on HIS stadium and the rest of that enormous place, he's a multibillionaire, and that is one of his businesses.

I don't see that as a reason to spend 9 million of Taxpayers cash to help alleviate HIS problem, you know a problem HIS CASH COW is causing.

The bridge will connect a tract of land that will attract a few large biotech firms for a campus style business park. This will create jobs and revenues for the area and help local economies once it get's rolling. This is one of the less wastefull uses of our stimulus money. At least they are'nt testing perfume on pigs?

 

[muzz]

Stimulus funds could fund Foxborough pedestrian bridge - The Boston Globe

"State officials decided to bypass a host of projects across the state - including road rebuilding projects in Canton, Danvers, Braintree, and Bellingham - to build the footbridge. "

Just so that they can tie 2 of Krafties Lots so he can lure more cash to the Kraft empire.....

Cronyism at it's finest here-

"Most transportation projects reviewed for federal funding are evaluated by two sets of professional planners before such votes, but the bridge and some other stimulus projects on the recently approved slate received no such review."

"The Kraft Group, which referred questions to the state, has long-range plans to develop property across the street from the stadium into an office park that could house close to 1 million square feet."

"But as recently as March, the Kraft Group was working with Foxborough’s town manager on trying to get state funds for the bridge, according to minutes from a selectmen’s meeting posted on the town’s website."

Bah

 

[weswelker#83]

I am sorry but this guy doesn't need the states funding , it's time for him to give back .

 

[RayClay]

I am sorry but this guy doesn't need the states funding , it's time for him to give back .

He doesn't own Route one. He's building office parks, restaurants etc. They are merely responding to traffic conditions caused by him spending his own money creating businesses and jobs. He's also not the only business that will benefit.

 

[pats1]

I am sorry but this guy doesn't need the states funding , it's time for him to give back .

The Krafts give generously and are involved in countless philantrophic activities. I know this first hand.

 

[pats1]

Good advice (Rt 140 too) worth re-posting

Yeah, the End Zone Motor Inn (now America's Best) is a good bet. The 140 idea is good too, depending on where you live. However, the traffic usually thins out once you get closer to 495, so there's less of a need to bypass that. Still, I sometimes use Pine St. (right next to that furniture store) and then take a few side streets through Norfolk to get back to 140 in Wrentham.

 

[PatsFanInEaglesLand]

I am sorry but this guy doesn't need the states funding , it's time for him to give back .

He built gillette with his own money, how many other NFL owners can say the same, I'm guessing zero.

In the larger scope of things 9 million dollars isn't sh!t.

In Pennsylvania tax payers paid for the Eagles, Phillies, Steelers and Pirates stadiums.

 

[Gator Mike]

I am sorry but this guy doesn't need the states funding , it's time for him to give back .

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be illegal for a private citizen to build a bridge over a state highway, even if he paid for it with his own money?

 

[JoeSixPat]

Wasn't someone killed walking along the road next to quick moving traffic recently?

Hopefully this is one of many steps taken to prevent that sort of thing.

Overall, given all the investment that Kraft has made into the team and the stadium without asking the taxpayers to pay for it like the $1.4 billion taxpayer financed stadium for the NY teams, I think a $9 million footbridge and other road investments are perfectly appropriate.

It's laughable that some have asserted Kraft's $500 donations to Deval Patrick were a quid pro quo for a $9 million footbridge.

 

[alvinnf]

He doesn't own Route one. He's building office parks, restaurants etc. They are merely responding to traffic conditions caused by him spending his own money creating businesses and jobs. He's also not the only business that will benefit.

All of which create commerce.... I think you would have to look closely at what the other projects were to determine wether or not this was a good spot for the money. I would love to be against anything Gov. Patrick has on his agenda, but I think this will benefit allot of people and interests. Mostly Kraft, but he's invested allot of money down there why shouldn't he get some support to create better infrastucture for his operations andd further operations.

 

[muzz]

Get some support?
That whole area around that stadium(RTE1) has already been upgraded quite a bit to "Help" Kraft, I'm CERTAIN that all of that road work wasn't cheap.
Lots of Taxpayer $ was spent to "Help" Krafty and his new stadium/multimillion $ playground/shopping/eating establishments.

How much $ is enough?
Should we just ask where all his lots are so we can just dig new tunnels to connect them all?
How many "other" folks are going to gain from this besides the Kraft Conglomerate?

I'd sure love to see what the "other" Road projects that this bypassed were....I'd be willing to bet $ that this is hardly worth the nod over at least some of those......but the man that has an extravagantly redecorated office downtown decides that his pal is more important.

 

[RayClay]

All of which create commerce.... I think you would have to look closely at what the other projects were to determine wether or not this was a good spot for the money. I would love to be against anything Gov. Patrick has on his agenda, but I think this will benefit allot of people and interests. Mostly Kraft, but he's invested allot of money down there why shouldn't he get some support to create better infrastucture for his operations andd further operations.

Hmmm an office park large enough to attract a major client. Heck, who needs that, all those people working, going to restaurants. Terrible idea to let them cross the road.

You'd think we needed to create jobs or something.

 

[muzz]

Who said he couldn't create an office park to attract a large corperation?

I have seen NOONE say that he wasn't allowed to create an office park, as long as he pays for the access road/abutment to the city owned street, I don't really see why anyone would moan about that.

 

[Patjew]

I am not one for political blah blah blah... I'm just happy that a bridge is going up there. The lack of one has always boggled my mind. Exiting Gillette is a disaster waiting to happen. You have to go through all of these "choke points" where I swear someone will die someday resulting from a stampede. It's really chintzy.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Not surprised Krafty wheeled and dealed for the money. Let's hope it will help us get in and out of the stadium faster. The process of getting into that stadium is the worst in the NFL.