Rebuilding Our Critical Infrastructure
Our district is in dire need of relief from the exceptional traffic that clogs its highways. We need more public transportation options and we need federal help in upgrading complex and expensive wastewater treatment facilities in our oldest industrial centers. As our coastal communities face flooding and rising tides, they need support with building climate-resilient infrastructure.
Implementation of a 21st Century Energy Grid
In the town of Reading alone, the increase in Tesla charging stations has caused transformer boxes to overload during peak usage times. We need to upgrade the energy grid that will match and accelerate the development of clean energy sources. Congress should give electric vehicle subsidies to households and aid in the purchase of electric vehicle fleets.
We need federal investment in clean energy infrastructure that includes Atlantic offshore wind energy and the further expansion of solar energy. These investments will also be job creators for our district, as our colleges continue developing students’ skills to build new energy infrastructure.
Improving our Personal and Public Transportation Systems
In the Metro-Boston area, the average commute time for drivers in the district is 1.5 hours each way. Passengers on the commuter rail report similar experiences. As a Salem State University Trustee, Jamie knows that students from nearby towns face steep challenges to get to school given our limited public transportation options. Jamie will press Congress to prioritize the implementation of an environmentally sound light rail system for the district’s business highways.
Infrastructure Resiliency
Climate change has brought with it intense rains, which are causing sewage overflows along the Merrimack River. These storms are taxing the district’s aging water treatment systems in cities that cannot possibly afford the entire replacement cost. Rising ocean levels threaten to submerge coastal roads. In the face of these environmental changes, we need to make smart decisions about our critical infrastructure to help make communities more resilient.
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