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Throwaway1231200001 t1_iqppok6 wrote

Worcester is the 2nd largest city in New England and has a commuter rail to Boston...it's really not a fair comparison. Springfield has potential but it would require a lot of people to act together.

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nofog2234 OP t1_iqpqoq1 wrote

A commuter rail that takes an hour 30 each way...

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0IIIIII t1_iqptb26 wrote

Perhaps more important than the Commuter Rail, is Route 9 and the highway. You can commute in all directions, and Worcester is in the biotech space similar to Boston and Metrowest.

Springfield has no prolific industries, and is too far away for commuters to Boston to consider. Worcester is closer, but anyone who wants to work in Worcester can, presently live in Worcester cheaply (this may change).

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nofog2234 OP t1_iqpvnjg wrote

Commuting on the turnpike is godawful in rush hour. My uncle used to travel Worcester-Boston to do overnight EMT dispatch. That took an hour with virtually no traffic. But yeah In a general sense I agree that Springfield would need to cultivate its own unique idenity. Maybe it becomes a starving artists city and cultivates a gritty cultural center.

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Beantownbrews t1_iqqk95l wrote

It does from Plymouth as well, or to ferry from Salem, but it has had a huge impact there as well.

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Smoaktreess t1_iqq7g5b wrote

2nd largest city in New England and no one knows how to say it lol

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NativeMasshole t1_iqqktqn wrote

Maybe some day they'll get that east-west rail link. I still believe a high speed rail across the state would be transformative for the entire Commonwealth, but it doesn't look we plan on spending our infrastructure money on anything so ambitious.

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BadgerCabin t1_iqt1hzr wrote

The state setup a committee this year that is gearing up to put in a request to get a piece of the federal infrastructure bill money. It’s going to happen.

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