Students and officials press for tunnel under Route 62 to connect Essex North Shore campuses

School leaders, students and the bill sponsor told the Joint Committee on Transportation that a pedestrian tunnel under Route 62 is needed to protect students who must cross the busy state highway multiple times per day.

"Connecting our campuses isn't just about convenience, it's about equity," said Sydney Smith, a freshman at Essex North Shore who uses accessibility accommodations. Smith described having to rely on staff to cross between buildings and said a tunnel would provide independence and reduce safety risks.

Heidi Riccio, superintendent-director of Essex North Shore, said the campus serves roughly 1,800 students from more than 50 communities and that daily crossings involve agricultural equipment, animals and shop materials. Ryan Monks, director of facilities, said traffic studies (2009 and 2025) showed high pedestrian volumes and frequent vehicle speeds above 30 mph, and he estimated the construction cost at approximately $7,500,000.

Senator (unnamed) sponsoring S.2414 described sidewalks that are not ADA-compliant and said the tunnel would improve safety and reduce instructional time lost to signal delays. Proponents said interim measures such as crossing guards and improved signal timing are not long-term solutions for the volume of student crossings.

The committee heard from students and vocational-education leaders that a tunnel would also increase program integration and reduce disruptions for after-school and evening programs. Witnesses asked the committee to provide authorization and funding; the committee did not vote during the hearing.