By Aaron Wasserman awasserman@sentinelandenterprise.com

FITCHBURG -- The state's secretary of transportation, Bernard Cohen, touted Wednesday the importance of reconstructing Route 12, saying it will help reduce congestion and spur long-term economic development in the area.

During a groundbreaking ceremony attended by many local and state officials, Cohen described the project as the "difference between economic growth and stagnation. I see the Route 12 project as an economic project as much as it is a transportation project.

"This project shows the Patrick administration's commitment to investing in all parts of the state, not just communities within Route 128," he added.

Construction on the $7.5 million project -- which will expand a stretch of Route 12 between Fitchburg and Leominster to four lanes, and reconfigure some awkward intersections along the way -- started last week. It is expected to last for two years.

Project supporters have said the redesigned Route 12 will better handle the road's traffic load; quicken access to Fitchburg; boost property values; and improve driver and pedestrian safety, with new intersections and sidewalks.

"This project on Route 12 is just so important to the city of Fitchburg," Mayor Dan H. Mylott said during the groundbreaking. "We're very excited we're finally going to get safe travel between Fitchburg and Leominster."

On the city's other long-planned infrastructure project, improving the commuter rail line between here and Boston for faster trips, Cohen said his office hopes to include the needed state money for the project in a bond bill being compiled later this month.

"We're certainly advocating to include money for the Fitchburg line in that bond bill, but I can't tell you exactly what will or will not be in there," Cohen said in a brief interview.

The regional transportation authority has secured $75 million from the federal government for the work, but now needs a $75 million state match. Officials say the money will pay for engineering work that will reduce the train commute to Boston to nearly one hour from the current approximately 90-minute trip.

"There's certainly a great opportunity to improve public transportation service to the area, but the ride to Boston is long, so if we can shorten it we can attract additional ridership, which is a good policy," Cohen said. "I think it's a very worthy project."

He also said any suggestion that he is skeptical of a possible new, regional train station on the city's western edge is incorrect. The project, dubbed "Wachusett Station," has $750,000 from the federal government to conduct a feasibility study, and Cohen said his office will release the money in the near future.