The Merrimack River as seen in Haverhill. (Creative Commons photograph)
When Governor Charlie Baker wanted a go-to expert on local travel, he turned to Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Executive Director Karen Sawyer Conard. Overseeing operations for the regional development agency since January 2017, Conard has been appointed to Baker’s newly-formed Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito Administration said Tuesday.
Conard joins 17 other appointees across the state who will address “transportation needs and challenges” anticipated between 2020 and 2040, Baker’s office said.
Karen Sawyer Conard (Photo courtesy of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission)
“Members of the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth Commission have generously agreed to help us chart an important future of the Commonwealth,” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said. “Our appointees bring exceptional institutional knowledge of our transportation history and a keen understanding of the challenges Massachusetts will need to address over the next several years.”
Baker’s former Chief of Staff Steven Kadish will chair the Commission.
Earlier this month, Conard and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission were the recipients of a $50,000 grant from the Baker-Polito Administration, which the group will use to revamp its regional website MVMB.biz.