Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | November 4, 2019 | wbjournal.com R E G I O N S M E T R O W E S T MetroWest: At a glance Largest employer Dell Technologies (EMC Corp.), Hopkinton 8,800 local employees Largest chamber of commerce Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce 501 members Biggest bank Middlesex Savings Bank, Natick $4,198,544,000 in deposits Biggest college Framingham State University 3,580 full-time students, fall 2018* Largest meeting venue Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel Accommodates 1,500 guests & Trade Center, Marlborough banquet style Median age 42.4 *Fall 2019 figures not available. Sources: Worcester Business Journal surveys of area businesses, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) as of June 30, 2019, Mass. Department of Reve- nue, U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey M etroWest has attracted businesses by provid- ing affordable access to the technology and development hub of Massachusetts along with the state's highly educated workforce. Similarly, communities have been able to draw in MetroWest still struggles with commuter access BY SAM BONNACCI Special to the Worcester Business Journal residents who want more space and a relaxed lifestyle but still need access to a wide range of job markets. is success has made MetroWest a hub of commuter activity, but the region is struggling with ways to move the growing number of people living and working in the area. While crushing rush hour traffic can be avoided by taking the commuter rail (a major selling point for the region) getting to work from a com- muter station is still a challenge. "ere are workers coming from ev- erywhere, and they don't have cars. ey need to have options to get out here," said Karen Chapman, president and CEO of the Corridor 9/495 Chamber of Commerce, who explained this is a challenge every MetroWest community is dealing with. "If they are choosing commuter rail, when they get off at the station they still need to get to work." One solution to this is a traditional bus line, but with multiple stops, this is not an especially speedy or reliable way to get to work, especially when com- muter train schedules are thrown off by inclement weather. is is where last-mile transporta- tion comes in using shuttle buses with direct routes to ferry those working in MetroWest those last few miles to work. First-mile transportation works similarly, but brings people from closer to home to commuter rail locations. e MetroWest Regional Transit Au- thority has been running these kinds of shuttles since 2009. is type of trans- portation is so important companies will reach out even before they sign a lease to see what the public transportation options are, said Sara Scully, the assistant deputy administrator for marketing/ communications/fixed route & inter- modal operations at the MWRTA. "Companies want to know if they come to the community what kind of transport options and what kind of first and last mile would be available," she said. "Companies know there is a demand for it. ey are hearing about it from their employees." e MWRTA operates five commuter shuttles with two of those being add- ed this year. While some of the shuttle routes are more generalized, such as the Framingham Commuter Shuttle serving multiple businesses as well as Framing- ham State University, others have been built with a specific business in mind. e MWRTA operates dedicated shuttles to large employers Boston Scientific Corp. in Marlborough and MathWorks in Natick, which just began in June. ese commuter shuttles are built around rider needs, avoid numerous The City of Marlborough's commuter shuttle started regular service in September. Companies and communities are installing shuttles and looking to other solutions to help workers and residents get from public transportation to their destinations PHOTO/MARLBOROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

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