WORCESTER, Mass. – As Brenda Gaumond hopped onto the curb after crossing Foster Street, she stopped to look back at the road.

“The roads around here have always sucked ever since I could remember,” said the lifelong city resident. Gaumond said she was pleased to learn that the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its support for the basic framework of the new bipartisan infrastructure bill that was agreed upon in June by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

“I think Worcester needs a lot of help with the roads,” said Gaumond. “This bill can only be a good thing.”

Ongoing road work on Francis J. McGrath Boulevard. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba.

The bill includes nearly $973 billion over five years, or $1.2 trillion over eight years, to fund improvements for the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, airports, broadband internet, water and sewer, power grids and electric vehicles. The Senate will vote on the bill in the coming weeks. Senate majority leader and New York democrat Chuck Schumer said last week that he planned to force a test or procedural vote on the infrastructure bill by Wednesday, July 21.

If the bill passes, it will address numerous policy areas considered crucial by progressive lawmakers such as investment to expand broadband access and reduce its cost for the average American, improving transit networks to reduce greenhouse emissions and building resilience to extreme natural disasters brought about by the climate crisis.

According to Alex Guardiola, vice president of government affairs and public policy for the Chamber, this bill is an investment in Worcester’s infrastructure and a top priority for the business community.

“With millions of America’s small businesses depending on reliable roadways, airports, water lines, broadband internet, and more to make their living, investment in infrastructure is also an investment into the quality of life for the residents of our nation and our region and helps to drive job opportunities and economic development,” he said. “The Chamber strongly believes this is an excellent step in the right direction toward repairing our nation’s infrastructure, which overall received a C-minus grade in a recent study by the American Society of Civil Engineers.”

Along with road concerns, Nik Blodgett, a Worcester resident who lives on Belmont Street, said he is concerned about the drinking water.

“Things could always be improved around here, but I don’t drive much so I’m not too concerned about the roads,” he said. “I think clean water is a priority because it impacts health. Something has to be done to keep the water clean. I don’t like to drink it now. I think this bill would be worth it if of course the price wasn’t too ludicrous.”

Coes Reservoir off Coes Street in Worcester, also known as Coes Pond. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba.

Phil Guerin, the city’s director of Water and Sewer Operations, recently addressed the need for improvements to the water and sewer infrastructure. During a quarterly Construction and Real Estate Roundtable, Guerin said the city’s water and sewer infrastructure was outdated. He indicated that all of the city’s ten drinking water reservoirs were either built in 1955 or earlier. Further, he said thirty percent of the municipal sewer system consists of pipes that are more than 100 years old, with some dating as far back as 1860.

On Friday, Guardiola said Guerin and his department are “undertaking a significant planning process for the next two decades to gradually repair and replace the old water and sewer systems, the constant maintenance of which is demanding the city raise the municipal sewer rate for businesses and residents yet again for the sixteenth year in a row. This is just one tangible example of how a federal bipartisan infrastructure deal would benefit Worcester and the region,” he said.

According to Dominique Goyette-Connerty, director of communications for the Chamber, specifics from the bill are still being worked out.

“Congress hasn’t really made details available yet about exactly what the money will go toward and where. But the Chamber is confident the City of Worcester could get money for that Integrated Water Management Plan… Worcester and the region could potentially get money for other things like our regional airport, bridges, roadways, and commuter rail – we are hoping!”

Lynde Brook Reservoir. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba.

While the particulars get hammered out by the powers-that-be, Francisco Valdes, a Worcester resident of 20 years, is just pleased that something can be done to help the city’s infrastructure.

“Improvement to the roads and the water has been long overdue,” he said. “I’m for anything that will help improve the infrastructure.”

Guardiola said the proposed bipartisan deal in Congress should provide people confidence in Worcester’s future. It “not only brings hope to increasing the average quality of life and prospects of economic vitality for America and Central Massachusetts, but it also brings hope to a deeply divided nation that we can still agree on tackling the most important challenges facing us today.

“The Chamber will do all it can to promote the infrastructure bill,” he said “We will work with our trusted partners and policymakers at the federal level to ensure that Worcester is top of mind during Congress’ discussion on this crucial national reckoning with investing in infrastructure.”