IBM plans for Littleton get the attention of town and state officials

By Debra Lance

Littleton Independent - Thu Jul 17, 2008, 10:44 AM EDT

Littleton -

According to Littleton’s Town Administrator Keith Bergman, IBM’s new software campus in Westford and Littleton has caught the interest of key Massachusetts state agencies and officials. At a July 11 meeting hosted at Big Blue’s Westford software campus and led by Massachusetts Housing and Economic Development Secretary Dan O’Connell, talks continued about what infrastructure changes IBM is looking for in Littleton to support “their largest software campus on the planet,” according to Bergman. Meeting attendees ranged from Bergman and Littleton Selectmen Joe Knox and Ken Eldridge, to a variety of representatives from Mass Highway, the MBTA, other state agencies, and IBM staffers, as well as State Senator Pam Resor.

According to Bergman, O’Connell made it clear that in a cabinet meeting with Gov. Deval Patrick, the Governor “expressed great personal interest in what was going on” with IBM’s move. “Somehow I got the feeling that there is a high likelihood that whatever initiatives come out of IBM’s conversations with the state, they will have a high priority with the Governor’s personal attention,”  Bergman told Selectmen at their July 14 meeting. “I’ve never sat in on a meeting before where a local business [IBM] has the governor’s full and complete attention,” said Bergman. “The intent seems to be there to make these [desired changes] happen and that creates a great opportunity to move on those opportunities and accomplish our own goals,” said Bergman. “I think it will be well worth our effort to look at what grants we want to pursue,” he said, referencing monies available from the state for infrastructure improvements. According to Bergman, “the commuter rail was a big issue” at the meeting, and that “IBM reported their interest and willingness to further explore the idea of using the IBM parking lot as a place for Littleton residents to park and get to the commuter rail by a shuttle.” “I’d say they gave a thumbs-up to the idea,” he told Selectmen. “We’ll have further conversations,” he continued. Improving the reverse commute from Boston to Littleton via commuter rail was also at the top of IBM’s desired infrastructure improvements, said Bergman, though he said that MBTA reps indicated that a $150 million dual track project for the Fitchburg line might need to be completed before that desire could become a reality. However, Bergman noted that a proposal to provide earlier train service to Littleton from Boston on the current single track out of Fitchburg was met with interest.

Selectman Joe Knox noted that IBMers’ concerns over potential traffic woes at the Route 495 on and off ramps were similar to those of Littleton residents. “So far all [the state] has in the works for Littleton is a change of the signalization at the common,” said Knox. “They have nothing in the works currently for getting on and off Route 495,” said Knox. “In 2010, hopefully the state will be moving in to take care of that traffic,” said Knox, hoping for funding for a light at the Route 495 ramps.