Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission - CMRPC

04/13/2026

Join CMRPC at the Worcester Public Library on April 16th at 10:00 a.m. for the Sharing History: Changing the Future event for the Vernon Connected project!

Together, we’ll reflect on the past and discuss how it informs the future of connectivity, access, and community development in Worcester. Through storytelling, visuals, and conversation, we’ll explore an important theme: “Before the highway, there was a neighborhood.”

04/07/2026

The is warning the public about a new phishing scheme where criminals are impersonating city and county officials and leveraging publicly available permit information to solicit fraudulent payments for planning and zoning permits. Read this public service announcement for tips on how to protect yourself: https://ow.ly/Sml750YwtF7

03/30/2026

CMRPC’s Legislative Affairs Breakfast was held last week in Worcester, where state legislators joined municipal leaders to discuss key issues, including the state budget and rising municipal health insurance costs.

Thank you to Senator Mike Moore, State Senator Peter Durant, David LeBoeuf, State Representative, State Rep. Daniel Donahue, Rep. Mary Keefe, and Representative Joe McKenna for participating!

03/26/2026

CMRPC is ! Join our growing team and make a positive impact in Central Massachusetts!

✨ Land Use & Comprehensive Planning Principal Planner
✨ Regional Planning Intern(s) Spring 2026
✨ Regional Planning Intern(s) Summer 2026

Learn more and apply online today: https://cmrpccareers.easyapply.co/

03/24/2026

Last week, CMRPC hosted the Vernon Connected keynote event, featuring a presentation by nationally renowned urban planner Jeff Speck.

More than 100 attendees learned about the history of I-290’s construction and its impact on surrounding Worcester communities.

Join us tomorrow at Girls Inc. of Worcester anytime between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to explore the history of the Vernon Hill neighborhoods divided by I-290 and collaborate with designers and planners to share your vision for the corridor’s future.

Can't make it? Take our short online survey to tell us what you envision: vernon-connected-cmrpc.hub.arcgis.com

03/05/2026

Join the Department of Transportation & Mobility for a Beacon Street Safety Project meeting Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club (65 Boys & Girls Club Way).

CMRPC is proud to partner with the City of Worcester on this initiative.

03/04/2026

The Vernon Connected Coffee Chat about how I-290 Reshaped a Neighborhood has been postponed due to the delayed opening at the Worcester Senior Center.

A new scheduled date will be announced in the coming days!

03/02/2026

Hear from nationally renowned urban planner Jeff Speck about the Vernon Connected project and a more walkable future for the City of Worcester!

The Vernon Street Bridge has both divided and connected Worcester's communities on either side for decades. It will have to be replaced in the coming years, but what it will become and how it relates to other connections across I-290 is being decided now through the Vernon Connected project.

Join us on March 19th at the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC). Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the event begins at 6:30 p.m.

Register here today! https://tinyurl.com/VCKeynote

City of Worcester, Massachusetts

02/20/2026

Step into Worcester’s past, present, and future this March!

Join the Vernon Connected project team for a series of FREE community events exploring how I-290 shaped local neighborhoods and help imagine what comes next.

March 4 — Coffee Chat at the Worcester Senior Center
March 19 — Keynote with bestselling author Jeff Speck at the BrickBox Theater inside the Jean McDonough Arts Center JMAC, registration required: https://tinyurl.com/VCKeynote
March 25 — Open House + Workshop at Girls Inc of Worcester

Be part of the conversation shaping the future of Worcester: https://tinyurl.com/VernonConnected

City of Worcester, Massachusetts

Vernon Connected is a public ArcGIS Hub site providing general information, interactive maps, and updates for the Vernon Connected project.

02/17/2026

Last week, Congressman Richard Neal announced the federal appropriation of $2,000,000 for the Town of Oxford Roadway Rehabilitation Project on Route 20 and $1,092,000 for the Town of West Brookfield Water Treatment Facility.

Additionally, the Town of Oxford Roadway Rehabilitation Project on Route 20 has been programmed on the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for $22,000,000 in 2028 and 2029.

Learn more about the significant transportation investments being made in the region by visiting CMRPC's website: https://cmrpc.org/transportation/core-plans/tip/