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Mass. Town Wants $1M For Traffic From Proposed Casino

LONGMEADOW, Mass. - The town of Longmeadow is seeking $1 million in upfront compensation from MGM Resorts International, citing traffic issues that would result if an $800 million resort casino is built in nearby Springfield.

Longmeadow Town Manager Stephen Crane tells the Republican newspaper that the town is relying on a study done for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission by an independent engineering firm.

The study found that Longmeadow and West Springfield would have the most impact from casino traffic among neighboring cities and towns.

The state's gambling law requires casino developers to negotiate mitigation agreements with surrounding communities.

MGM has rejected Longmeadow's demands, saying they are far out of line with other surrounding community agreements. The company says there's no definitive evidence that Longmeadow's traffic problems would be any worse.

This program aired on December 25, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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