City of Worcester, MA

City, Canal District Address Parking and Access during Polar Park Construction

For Immediate Release: 7/31/2019 10:22 am

The City of Worcester and Canal District businesses are working together to provide convenient access and parking options during the construction of Polar Park, the future home of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, and other area projects beginning this summer. In addition to the ballpark, work will include construction of a redesigned Kelley Square, other street, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, upgraded utilities, and initial development projects north and south of the ballpark, to include hotels, residences, and retail spaces.

Website
A dedicated website has been launched at www.worcestercanal.com for residents and visitors to stay up-to-date on construction activities, upcoming traffic changes, and parking options. Visitors to the site can sign up to receive weekly email updates. Questions can be addressed by email at info@worcestercanal.com or by phone at 508-217-3340.

Construction Overview: Summer 2019
Work commencing this summer will include the following major elements:

• Demolition, excavation and grading at the site for Polar Park and neighboring developments.
• Continued utility upgrades throughout the Canal District.
• Roadwork on Harding Street and Winter Street.

Parking
Construction activities will necessitate the closure of privately owned parking lots at 24 Assonet Street and 53-75 Washington Street as of close-of-business (6 p.m.) on Thursday, August 1.

Canal District visitors will continue to have access to many convenient parking options. More than 1,100 public parking spaces are located within the Canal District, including on-street parking, municipal parking lots, and the Union Station Garage. In addition to these public spaces, a number of businesses provide on-site parking for their customers.

Municipal Off-Street Parking Locations

Union Station Garage - 225 Franklin St.

Green Street Lot - 96 Green St.

Expressway Lot C - Franklin St. at Grafton St.

Millbury Street Lot - 51 Millbury St.

Water Street Lot - 85 Water St.

On-street parking is provided throughout the Canal District, and improvements to Winter Street and Harding Street will create additional on-street parking spaces once those projects are completed. Construction activities will intermittently disrupt some on-street parking areas, so visitors are encouraged to check www.worcestercanal.com for the latest information on construction impacts.

The Canal District is also centrally located and only a short walk from Union Station, the WRTA bus hub, and Downtown. Additional nearby parking options in downtown include the Worcester Common Garage and the McGrath (Worcester Public Library) Parking lot.

Canal District Parking and Shuttle
Participating Canal District businesses have established a parking lot at 156 Washington Street, a five-minute walk to shops and businesses, and plan to offer shuttle service between lots and participating businesses starting August 1. For more information, please visit www.canaldistrictshuttle.com.

Parking Action Plan
To manage parking impacts during the construction period, the city is implementing a Parking Action Plan, which will be monitored and adjusted as needed. Key aspects include the following:

• Establish a dedicated public information team and website (www.worcestercanal.com) to provide the latest information concerning upcoming construction work, parking options, and street closures.
• Implement additional signage to direct Canal District visitors to available parking areas.
• Prioritize on-street parking for customer/visitor use (2 hour limits).
• Provide longer-term/daily parking opportunities for customers and employees at off-street parking lots and garages.
• Ensure that construction workers don’t use parking spaces intended for use by Canal District visitors and residents.
• Work with restaurants to expand valet services.
• Maintain safe and convenient pedestrian access within the Canal District as well as to downtown and regional transportation services.
• Expand on-street and off-street parking options where feasible (check website for latest info as new parking areas come online).

Ultimately, an additional 1,000 parking spaces will be created in the Canal District to support Polar Park and neighboring developments. In addition, an integrated network of pedestrian, bicycle and street improvements will connect the ballpark, new development, Canal District and downtown.