Paving Private Streets In Worcester May Get Easier Under New Law

WORCESTER, MA — Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed a law passed by the state Legislature that will change how Worcester paves private streets — a process that can be prohibitively expensive for property owners.

In March, the Worcester City Council Public Works Committee chaired by District 3 Councilor George Russell asked state lawmakers for permission to allow city residents above retirement age to defer payments on private street betterments until after they sell their home.

"Private street betterments are expensive and oftentimes, a hardship for families and homeowners. The Public Works Committee explored every way to allow for elderly and qualifying residents to defer the cost of their private street conversion," Russell said in a news release.

Private roads are some of the most treacherous in Worcester. The roads are often unpaved and pockmarked with potholes. The city has two programs to convert private streets to public: the betterment program and the conversion program.

The "conversion" option is the most expensive because the city upgrades streets to the highest standard. The conversion can cost up to $180 per square foot, which property owners can pay in full, or finance at a 5 percent interest rate over either a 10-year or 20-year period.

The "betterment" program can cost up to $130 per square foot, but property owners can only finance the total cost over 5 years at a 5 percent interest rate. Paving under the "betterment" program is only guaranteed to last about five years, according to the Department of Public Works.

Worcester state Reps. James O'Day, Daniel Donahue and David LeBoeuf introduced the bill earlier this year, and Baker signed on Dec. 1. Under the bill, deferment would be open to any property owner who is over age 65, has household annual earnings no greater than 80% of the Worcester Area Median Income and is the primary owner of a home with no more than three residential units.