Worcester is preparing a significant expansion of its public electric vehicle charging network, adding 22 charging ports at five city-owned locations by the end of the year.
The new stations increase the city’s municipal network from 30 to 52 public charging ports, a nearly 75% jump, according to a city announcement.
Construction is scheduled to begin the week of Sept. 14 and continue through December.
The 22 new ports will be spread across the city, with four each at 69 Sever St.; Russell Street near Elm Park; Providence Street near Vernon Park; and 98 Woodland St. at Oberlin Street. Six additional ports will be installed at Great Brook Valley Park.
All will be Level 2 chargers, which are commonly used for charging vehicles over several hours rather than the shorter charging times offered by high-powered DC fast chargers.
City officials said the expansion is being paid for primarily through grants, with limited municipal funding, though the announcement did not specify the total project cost or the amount coming from each funding source.
The project is part of Worcester’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, which accounts for nearly one-third of the city’s community-wide emissions, according to the announcement.
“Transportation accounts for nearly a third of Worcester’s community-wide greenhouse gas emissions, so this work is one of the most direct ways we can address climate change while making the city more livable,” Chief Sustainability Officer John Odell said in the announcement. “These new stations will make it easier for residents, especially those without a driveway or garage, to choose an electric vehicle.”
The placement of chargers in public locations is particularly significant for residents who live in apartments or other homes without access to private off-street charging. Expanding access to EV charging is one of the goals outlined in the city’s Green Worcester Plan.
Drivers pay a fee to use the new chargers, and the city also imposes an overstay fee intended to discourage vehicles from remaining in a charging space after charging is complete. Rates were not included in the announcement and will be posted at each location.
Installing the chargers will bring some temporary disruptions this fall.
Four of the five locations require work in streets and sidewalks, resulting in temporary parking, pedestrian and traffic restrictions in the immediate construction areas. The city expects the most disruptive portion of construction at each site to last one to two days.
No-parking notices will be posted at least 24 hours before work begins, and pedestrian detours will be posted on construction days. Police details will be used when temporary road closures are necessary, according to the announcement.
The six chargers at Great Brook Valley Park will be installed within an existing parking lot and are not expected to affect the public during construction.
The project is being led by Worcester’s Department of Sustainability and Resilience in partnership with the departments of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery; Transportation and Mobility; and Public Works.
Once operational, the new chargers will be added to public EV charging station directories, including PlugShare and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.
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