The 750-space parking facility to be located at the Salem MBTA commuter rail station will be funded in part by $3.6 million from the Federal Transit Administration and $3 million from the Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management (DCAM). The DCAM investment allows 150 parking spaces to serve the new Essex County Courthouse complex. The balance of the spaces will be available to daily commuters who park and ride the commuter rail to Boston. The Governor said the state will fund its appropriate share of the total $45 million project costs and work with the MBTA and the City to finalize each party's contribution to the project, which is scheduled to be completed by 2011.
“By moving this project from the drawing board to reality, we can address a longstanding need for additional commuter parking and give Salem an economic boost,” said Governor Patrick.
The Salem commuter rail station is one of the most heavily used on the MBTA’s Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line. It serves not only hundreds of daily commuters but also is a point of arrival for tourists and visitors. The existing surface parking lot with fewer than 350 spaces routinely is filled before 8:00 a.m. on weekdays.
Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll called the announcement "phenomenal news." Read the Salem News story.
When is the station in New Bedford going to open the one that Governor Patrick came and spoke about at UMass Dartmouth after he was elected
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South Coast Rail Manager Kristina Egan responds:
We have submitted a proposal for federal stimulus funding to advance design of the NB Whale’s Tooth Station, the first of two proposed for the city. The station could be serving New Bedford before the start of full South Coast Rail service in 2016. As a multimodal center, it will also serve ferry and bus service Construction will start in 2010 and be completed in 2012, and open for bus service in 2012, with rail service in 2016.
Posted by: Matt Cahill | October 05, 2009 at 01:45 PM