Medford Mayor Speaks on Many City Topics

Mayor Stephanie Burke is "very nervous" about the traffic that the incoming Everett casino will bring to Medford, she said in an interview with Boston Herald radio Wednesday.

Burke told the "Herald Drive" show that her primary concern is Wellington Circle, where anyone who attempts to navigate the intersecting circles even now knows it can be no picnic. (Patch reporters who spend many days at the Starbucks at Station Landing can attest.)

“We are really nervous about [the traffic]," Burke said. "It’s going to impact our Wellington area, which is where I grew up. So we're really focused."

Former Mayor Michael McGlynn signed a compact agreement that will see Medford get funds once the casino is up and running. Some of that money will go to traffic studies at Wellington Circle, Burke said.

“We do have some payments coming in, but not until the doors open," Burke said. "They did front-load maybe $400,000 dollars and then it’s about $1 million dollars a year that Medford will receive once we open our doors, but we know the impact regardless of any traffic studies going on out there, we know Wellington Circle is going to be the impact area coming off I-93 from the north.”

Burke also said one her primary missions as mayor is "trying to get our infrastructure up."

Burke touched on other topics, including her aspirations, President Trump's focus on infrastructure, when she decided to run for mayor, how the city compares to Somerville, her "very strong relationship" with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and more.

You can listen to the 20-something-minute interview here.