Kennedy: I dispute traffic study

LYNN – Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy called a $350,000, agreed-upon annual payment from a proposed Suffolk Downs casino to the city “found money,” but said she disputes estimates on how much traffic the gambling complex could generate.Kennedy said a study she reviewed during payment negotiations with casino executives indicates a Suffolk Downs casino on the Revere-East Boston line will add 18 cars a day to Lynn roadways.?I dispute that – I think the number is far greater,” she said.Kennedy said she pushed for the city to receive a higher annual payment from a Revere casino – assuming one is licensed by the state sometime this year – and said casino negotiators initially proposed paying the city $50,000 a year.?I didn?t get my top number,” she said.Suffolk and Mohegan this week announced agreements signed with seven communities, including Lynn, Chelsea, Salem, Melrose, Cambridge, Medford and Malden totaling $3.75 million in payments to the communities.The agreements reflect requirements in a 2011 state law providing for casino developers to negotiate host agreements with communities, like Revere, where gambling is proposed as well as surrounding communities like Lynn.Communities unable to reach agreements or unhappy with proposals can propose agreement terms to the state Gaming Commission.Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree is in the process of negotiating an agreement for Saugus with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. He told selectmen Tuesday that he was seeking funds to deal with the casino?s impact on the town in areas of public safety, traffic issues and any ways the gaming addiction could be detrimental to the community. His main concern, he said, was how the casino would take customers away from Saugus? restaurant and entertainment venues.?Obviously we know casinos are built to attract people, and have their own restaurants and entertainment,” said Crabtree. He added that the casinos could also boost Saugus? community.He said in addition to meeting with reps from the casino, he would be meeting with Route 1 businesses to keep that issue at the forefront.Kennedy said she ultimately decided to forge an agreement with Suffolk and Mohegan representatives rather than risk the possibility of seeing a Lynn agreement proposal rejected by state officials.?I didn?t want to take my chances with the Gaming Commission,” she said.Kennedy said the agreement with Suffolk-Mohegan also includes sharing gambling money from the casino with the city and providing casino job training opportunities through North Shore Community College?s Lynn campus.She said casino proponents also agreed to not undermine the 2,200-seat Veterans Memorial Auditorium?s ability to attract performers by offering shows in a casino performance hall with fewer than 500 seats or more than 3,000.City Council President Daniel Cahill on Friday said he thinks the casino pact will benefit the city and Lynn residents, but said Boston-bound commuters have raised concerns about casino traffic with him.?They are concerned about potential impacts of a casino on their trips into Boston,” he said.Suffolk-Mohegan executives have agreed to spend $1 million studying traffic and needed improvements “not related to the impacts of the proposed resort.”Kennedy on Friday said she thinks the Revere casino site has “a 50-50 shot” of getting licensed later this year by the commission.Kait Taylor also contributed to this story.