Plainridge Park

As part of the Commonwealth’s decision to license casinos in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) set forth a detailed application process. Green was contracted by the MGC to provide technical evaluation and guidance to the Commission in studying the various proposals for the resort casinos. Green has been providing the lead traffic engineering and transportation planning services as part of the effort. Green has gained an extensive amount of experience in the review of this particular land use given that the firm had also completed the technical reviews for the proposed slots casinos in 2013. The analysis has included an extensive amount of research regarding travel and parking characteristics of casino establishments being observed around the country as well as in Canada. The technical review of the applications also included independent site visits and attendance at public forums to understand the existing transportation system and services in the vicinity of the proposed slots casino sites. The review effort for this phase included examining three (3) different proposed casinos as follows:

• MGM Springfield,
• Wynn Everett, and
• Mohegan Revere.

In addition to the site visits and research, the technical review involved determining the adequacy of responding to key application questions pertaining to the existing and proposed traffic and parking conditions. The adequacy of the response as well as the actual assessment of the proposed casino was completed as it related to:

• the study area,
• the applicants’ estimates of traffic and parking demands,
• the analysis of traffic operations and safety in the study area,
• the proposed site access and internal circulation,
• the application of transit and other non-private vehicle mode, and
• the off-site mitigation program.

In addition to the above, potential concerns raised by nearby communities in each proposed casino location required independent analysis as to the relative impact to these communities due to travel routes and level of potential added traffic. Testimony provided to the MGC was used to help determine whether a ‘surrounding community’ deserved special attention as defined by the legislation. The technical review during this selection phase also required Green to coordinate with other agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the State’s environmental review office as well as extensive coordination with MGC staff. With the selection of the MGM Springfield and Wynn Everett sites, Green has been further retained to assist the MGC as final design and construction proceeds.