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2d ago

Global Partners Moves in Court to Block MassDOT Service‑Plaza Lease to Applegreen

The latest filing asks a judge to halt the 35‑year deal over alleged improper contacts during the procurement.

Natick, MA - Natick rest stop on the Mass Pike
A view of the Natick rest stop on the Mass Pike. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald, File)

Overview

  • Global Partners amended its Suffolk Superior Court lawsuit to seek an order stopping MassDOT from executing the redevelopment lease with Applegreen and to award the contract to Global as the next highest‑scoring bidder.
  • The filing cites text messages obtained via public records, including a note to an Applegreen board member stating, "Your team did a good job today. Now the work begins," as evidence of prohibited communications.
  • Applegreen, Suffolk Construction, and Blackstone deny any rule violations, saying the messages did not relate to the RFP and had no bearing on the selection.
  • State Senator Mark Montigny set a Sept. 24 oversight hearing to scrutinize the procurement as the case proceeds before Judge Christopher Barry‑Smith.
  • KPMG’s analysis for MassDOT projected higher lifetime state revenue from Global’s bid ($1.3–$1.5 billion) versus Applegreen’s ($623–$994 million) while Applegreen pledged about $750 million in capital work and plans to begin construction in early 2026, with lease submission due Nov. 3 and operations slated for Jan. 1, 2026.