Excerpts from the report: At the request of the Joint Civic Agencies of Springfield, the University of Massachusetts made a brief examination of the Springfield wholesale food market in the summer of 1963. This preliminary study determined that building a market for all food wholesalers was feasible, but that further study was needed. Mayor Ryan then requested the Transportation and Facilities Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, to develop plans for a wholesale food distribution center for the city, determine the facilities required, and estimate the cost involved. The imminent encroachment of Interstate Route 91 upon the market area was a factor in this request. The study had the following objectives: • To analyze the food marketing situation and to determine the adequacy of the marketing facilities in Springfield in the light of present and future needs. • To develop plans and designs for facilities and consider sites that would be adequate to provide the most efficient means of distributing Springfield's food supplies. • To estimate costs of facility construction, possible operating expenses, and self-liquidating potentials. • To estimate probable savings and other benefits from any suggested improvements.