Major policy and funding decisions for transportation projects in our region are often driven by our elected officials working in concert with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
According to the New York Times, the best way to get your message through to your legislator is to call their office on the phone. A phone call almost always holds more weight than an email and far outweighs a Facebook post or a tweet.
Sending a letter to your local, state, and/or a federal representative is an effective way to make your voice heard and it helps them to gauge the level of interest in a particular topic.
Letters can usually be submitted by postal mail or e-mail, and often via a web form on the elected official’s website — but we’ve heard that e-mail is generally the least effective method of communicating with your representatives. It may, however, be an excellent means of communicating with the staff of your representative.
It’s a good idea to check with staff in the local office to understand the best way to communicate with a particular representative.
Letters limited to one page are usually more effective than longer letters. Also, state the purpose of the letter in a subject line and also describe your position in the first part of the letter.
Contact details for your elected officials can be found below.
Federal elected officials
Senator Edward Markey
1550 Main Street, 4th Floor
Springfield, MA 01101
413-785-4610
Senator Elizabeth A. Warren
1550 Main Street, Suite 406
Springfield, MA 01103
413-788-2690
Congressman James McGovern, 2nd Congressional District
94 Pleasant Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413-341-8700
Congressman Richard E. Neal, 1st Congressional District
300 State Street, Suite 200
Springfield, MA 01105
413-785-0325
State elected officials
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll
Find your State Senator and State Representative
Mayors
Mayor Virginia “Ginny” Desorgher
City Hall
14 Court Square, 2nd Floor
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-772-1560
Mayor Joshua A. Garcia
City Hall
536 Dwight Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
413-322-5510
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra
City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1249
Mayor Domenic Sarno
City Hall
36 Court Street
Springfield, MA 01103
413-736-3111
Even if your city of town is not directly served by passenger rail today you should still contact your elected officials to express your views.
Local and state officials from across the commonwealth provide critical input into regional and state planning efforts.
Further reading
“Here’s Why You Should Call, Not Email, Your Legislators”
By Daniel Victor | The New York Times | January 25, 2017
Page last updated: February 26, 2024
Page last reviewed: February 26, 2024