Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

93Fast14 Named Top Ten Transportation Project

MassDOT's 2011 "93Fast14" project in Medford is one of the Top Ten finalists for the 2012 America's Transportation Award by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

The $98 million 93Fast14 project replaced 14 deteriorated bridges in just 10 weekends and moved forward as part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program to repair structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth.

93Fast14 and nine other finalists received the highest number of overall points during four regional contests and were judged in three categories: "Ahead of Schedule", "Under Budget", and "Best Use of Innovation."

The 10 projects now compete for the America's Transportation Awards' Grand Prize, selected by a panel of judges, and the People's Choice Award, which will be decided by popular vote of the general public.

Online voting begins today, Monday, Sept. 10 and will continue through Friday, Oct. 19 at www.AmericasTransportationAward.org.

The two awards will be presented in November at the AASHTO annual meeting. The winners of both the Grand Prize and the People's Choice Award will be awarded $10,000, which must be donated by the state DOTs to a charity or scholarship of their choice.

The America’s Transportation Awards by AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S Chamber of Commerce were created to celebrate transportation improvements delivered by state departments of transportation that are on time, on budget, and innovative.

Knowledge Corridor Work Advances

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today joined Congressman John Olver, Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke for a first look at the potential site of the upcoming Holyoke Passenger Rail platform and announced construction is now underway to restore passenger rail service along the Connecticut River rail line, known as the Knowledge Corridor.

Funded through a $73 million federal grant by the federal stimulus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program, the Knowledge Corridor project will restore Amtrak's intercity passenger train service to its original route by relocating the Vermonter from the New England Central Railroad back to its former route on the Pan Am Southern Railroad. 

“Investing in passenger rail service along the Knowledge Corridor is one example of how government is working to promote economic development in all regions of the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “My sincere thanks goes to Congressman Olver and Congressman Neal who are making this project a reality.”

Construction is currently underway to replace 20,000 rail ties from Greenfield to the Vermont border. The Knowledge Corridor project is on track to bring rail service to Northampton and Greenfield in 2014. Holyoke is beginning the design process for Holyoke Train Station and rail work is expected to begin this fall.

“MassDOT is pleased to partner with the city of Holyoke. This Knowledge Corridor is a great example of our statewide rail initiative that is providing more opportunity for all residents and the visitors to the Commonwealth,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey.

Federal Transit Grants Boost Springfield, MBTA

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today joined Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Congressman Richard Neal and MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey in Springfield to announce 255 federal transit grants totaling $787 million nationwide, including three grants for Springfield Union Station, Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, and the MBTA.

The Massachusetts grants include:

Springfield Union Station- $17.6 million will implement Phase I of the redevelopment of Union Station into an intermodal transportation and passenger center serving the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and Peter Pan bus services, Amtrak, inter-city rail, and planned commuter rail to Connecticut, all in a single location with convenient pedestrian access and parking.

• MBTA Vehicle Replacements- $15.6 million will replace T buses past their useful life with new energy-efficient vehicles to improve bus service and meet rising demand.

• Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), Springfield Operations & Maintenance Facility- $3.96 million will go towards Phase II of the PVTA plan to replace a century-old operations and maintenance facility in downtown Springfield with a new facility to more efficiently serve its current transit bus fleet.

This third round of federal funding supports projects in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) FY2012 State of Good Repair and Bus Livability grant program. FTA received 836 project applications totaling $4 billion in requests.  In FY2010 and FY2011, FTA awarded a total of more than $1.8 billion in grants for hundreds of state of good repair projects, primarily involving buses and bus facilities.

North Bank Pedestrian Bridge Grand Opening

Governor Deval Patrick today celebrated the completion of the North Bank pedestrian bridge, connecting Paul Revere Park in Charlestown to Cambridge's North Point Park.

Funded through the Obama Administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the $26 million North Bank Bridge and North Point Park project will provide thousands of pedestrians with a safe, accessible and quick route between Cambridge and Charlestown.

“I am proud to celebrate the completion of the North Point Bridge which brings together our communities and encourages residents and visitors to make use of outdoor spaces,” said Governor Patrick. “As one of the first shovel ready projects awarded funding by the Obama Administration through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this bridge is an investment for generations to come.”

In 1993, the Turnpike Authority agreed to allocate funds to the construction of the connecting bridges after the Central Artery/Tunnel Project was completed. After several years with no progress, the North Bank Bridge Project received federal stimulus ARRA funding in 2009 and construction began in 2010. Construction was completed in spring 2012.

The pedestrian bridge is open to biking and rollerblading, in addition to walking or running, giving the public greater access to the parks. Prior to the bridge’s construction, traveling on foot from North Point Park to Paul Revere Park would take roughly 25 minutes. The new bridge, reduces the time to less than five minutes.

The 690-foot bridge curves under the Zakim Bridge and over the MBTA railway.  The steelwork is metalized rather than painted to minimize maintenance. Energy-efficient LED light strips are installed in the bridge’s railings for aesthetics and public safety.

North Point Park completed two years ago is part of the New Charles River Basin, the “lost half mile” between the old Charles River Dam and the Charlestown Bridge. North Point includes a broad pedestrian path along the water’s edge and a tree-shaded bikeway along the land side of the park, and is the third park to be completed as part of the Big Dig mitigation efforts, which also included the restoration and expansion of Paul Revere Park in Charlestown and the construction of Nashua Street Park in Cambridge and Boston.

Wonderland Transit Center Opening

The Patrick-Murray Administration today celebrated the opening of the new Wonderland Intermodal Transit Center, a $53.5 million project shepherded to completion with federal, state and local support and a shared vision for smart transit-oriented development for Revere’s Waterfront Square.

The centerpiece of the project is the new South Parking Garage, which officially opens today, and provides approximately 1500 parking spaces. The new bus way is located under the garage and protects commuters from hot sun and inclement winter weather. Other features include ample storage for bicycles and improved pedestrian access.

“The new garage, the bus way, the improved roadway signals along Route 1A all increase connectivity for drivers, transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists. While these changes are essential and noticeable, it is the future growth to come that will be beneficial for new residents and businesses and a great achievement for the Patrick-Murray Administration,” said MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey.
 
The transformation at Wonderland Station wrapped up in less than two years. Officials broke ground on the Transit Center in September 2010 with Suffolk Construction hired as the project’s contractor.

Funding for the project includes $22.7 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Commonwealth MORE Grants which contributed $10 million, FTA and Commonwealth Infrastructure Funds of $6.5 million, $3 million from a FTA Section 5309 Grant and $11 million from the MBTA.

The project will also contribute a number of new parking spaces to negate environmental impacts resulting from construction of the Central Artery Tunnel Project.

93Fast 14, Interchange 8B Projects Honored

MassDOT's Fall River- Freetown Route 24 Interchange 8B project and the TranSystems firm received the 2012 Gold Award for Outstanding Design Excellence by ACEC, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts.

The $35 million project completed and opened in January 2012 created a new exit and interchange, 8B, between the existing exits 8 and 9 on Route 24 in Freetown, funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The project will reduce congestion at exits 8, 9 and South Main Street while providing access to the new Fall River Executive Park.

The project work began in early 2010 and was completed on schedule in less than two years. To speed construction and minimize the disruption to the traveling public, MassDOT used an expedited design/build approach to construction management. 

In addition, MassDOT's 2011 Accelerated Bridge Program project, 93Fast14, and the Tetra Tech firm received the ACEC Grand Conceptor Award.  The project replaced 14 bridge superstructures along I-93 in Medford during just 10 summer weekends in 2011.

 

Route 24 Interchange 8B Opens

The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced the completion and opening of Route 24 Interchange 8B, a signature project that created jobs while investing in the state’s infrastructure to enhance long term economic development. The $35 million project created a new exit and interchange, 8B, between the existing exits 8 and 9 on Route 24 in Freetown and is funded by the Obama Administration's federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The project will reduce congestion at exits 8, 9 and South Main Street while providing access to the new Fall River Executive Park. The project constructed a new street, Executive Park Drive, connecting Riggenbach Road and South Main Street and providing access to the Executive Park and the Exit 8B ramps. The project also includes a new bridge to carry Executive Park Drive over Route 24 and entrance and exit ramps to connect Route 24 north and southbound to Executive Park Drive.

The project work began in early 2010 and has been completed on schedule in less than two years. To speed construction and minimize the disruption to the traveling public, MassDOT used an expedited design/build approach to construction management.  More information is available on the Interchange 8B Project website.

MBTA Kingston Wind Turbine

MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey today joined state and local officials to break ground on the Kingston Wind Turbine Program at the Kingston Layover Facility.  The 100-kilowatt wind turbine will power 65 percent of the Kingston commuter rail station's energy supply. The $2.5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project builds on the Patrick-Murray Administration's investment in transportation infrastructure and is another step toward a more energy efficient Commonwealth. 

The $2.5 million ARRA Transit Investments Generating Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reductions grant funds the 120-foot-tall turbine that will power the station's energy supply to the parking lot, station platforms, and plug--ins for locomotives. The grant also funds a second 300-kilowatt turbine to be installed along the commuter rail tracks in Bridgewater.  The two wind turbines when operational will save the MBTA approximately $100,000 annually in electricity costs.

The wind turbine will be constructed on the north side of the commuter rail tracks between the maintenance and substation structures. Construction will begin immediately.

New Starts Grant Upgrades Fitchburg Rail Line

MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey today joined Congressman John Olver, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Peter Rogoff in Littleton to officially announce $75 million in FTA New Starts funding for the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line Improvement Project.

“This investment in the Fitchburg Line will reduce travel times for commuters, while expanding service to underserved regions of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Deval Patrick.

The MBTA along with the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority are making extensive improvements to modernize the Fitchburg Rail Line and provide greatly improved service and reliability to riders and commuters in the 50-mile long corridor from Fitchburg to Boston. 

“As we continue to improve passenger rail service, upgrades to the Fitchburg Line will make a real difference for commuters while also enhancing opportunities for regional economic growth, “said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.

The Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line Improvement Project is a $159 million project including the $75 million federal New Starts Program grant with state matching funds, creating 260 jobs. The work will include the installation of new switches and signals as well as two new renovated stations and the reconstruction of existing track on the state's oldest commuter rail line, serving 17 communities at 18 rail stations.

Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are also supporting a double track project as part of the overall effort to improve the Fitchburg Line and reduce travel times. 

Knowledge Corridor Rail Project Creates Jobs

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today joined Congressman John Olver, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo, MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, and state and local officials in Greenfield to officially announce the revitalization of the “Knowledge Corridor” along the Connecticut River rail line in western Massachusetts. The project is funded by $73 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants and will create more than 360 construction jobs in the region. 

MassDOT in June 2011 signed the agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed with the “Knowledge Corridor” project to revitalize the existing Connecticut River rail line, which runs from Connecticut through Massachusetts to Vermont. The project will restore Amtrak’s Vermonter train service to the line, providing a more direct route, faster service and restored access to the cities of Greenfield and Northampton. Revitalization of the Knowledge Corridor route will restore the original route of the Vermonter traveling between St. Albans, Vermont and Washington, DC.  The project is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed in approximately two years.   

“The Governor and Lieutenant Governor from the beginning have formed meaningful partnerships with the New England states, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Amtrak to implement a coordinated plan for better regional rail service,” said Secretary Davey. “The Knowledge Corridor is a perfect example of the success of these partnerships.”

The improvements to the Knowledge Corridor will occur on the Connecticut River mainline of the Pan Am Southern railroad, a joint venture between Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern to improve freight service for customers along the line and within western Massachusetts.

The Patrick-Murray Administration and New England's Governors are working together on a coordinated regional Vision for the New England High Speed and Intercity Rail Network lays out key projects to strengthen passenger and freight rail service along new and existing rail corridors. The goal is to double passenger rail ridership in the Northeast by 2030.