Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

South Coast Rail: New Bedford Bridges Completed

MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey today joined local and regional officials to celebrate the successful completion of a $20 million project to reconstruct three structurally-deficient rail bridges critical to moving the South Coast Rail project forward.

"It is encouraging to see this important rail bridge project completed ahead of schedule,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Thanks to support from the Obama Administration and our Congressional partners, we were able to create jobs while taking an important step forward in advancing passenger rail service to the South Coast.”

The project was the first in the nation to begin construction after receiving federal Recovery Act Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant funds from the Obama Administration. The work began in October 2010 and was completed four months ahead of schedule. The reconstruction of the Deane Street, Sawyer Street and Coggeshall Street rail bridges represents the first completed phase of construction necessary to advance the South Coast Rail project. The projects created approximately 240 construction jobs.

The rebuilt bridges were constructed in 1907. They were badly deteriorated and limited only to light freight loads. Reconstruction of the century-old bridges will immediately enhance freight operations and improve vehicle traffic below while supporting future passenger rail for the region. In addition to the $20 million in competitive stimulus TIGER funds awarded for this project, Massachusetts also received a $32.5 million federal grant to support the design phase of the Boston South Station expansion project, which will support the South Coast Rail Project.

The rail bridges reconstruction project is among several investments in South Coast Rail by the Patrick-Murray Administration. The newly-released capital plan includes $8.3 million this year for continued planning and design of South Coast Rail. The Commonwealth has completed an historic agreement with CSX Transportation to purchase 30 miles of track from Taunton to Fall River and New Bedford necessary for South Coast Rail.  MassDOT and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development in November announced $275,000 in grants to 18 South Coast communities for technical assistance to implement the South Coast Rail Corridor Plan. The Corridor Plan identifies areas for protection and development in 31 communities.

South Coast Rail will restore passenger rail service from South Station in Boston to the South Coast cities of Fall River and New Bedford.  More information is available on the project website at www.southcoastrail.com.

South Coast Technical Assistance Awards

18 communities in the South Coast Rail corridor are receiving South Coast Technical Assistance Awards of $5,000 to $25,000 for local planning, zoning, housing, and open space initiatives.

The awards were announced at the Southeastern Massachusetts Commuter Rail Task Force Meeting in Raynham, with attendees including South Coast Rail Project Manager Jean Fox along with Secretary Greg Bialecki and Victoria McGuire of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, left.

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey said, “These technical assistance awards further the goals of South Coast Rail by aligning regional development and land use with the corridor plan."

The South Coast Rail Plan unveiled in 2009 by Governor Deval Patrick demonstrates the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to targeted state investment to enhance the development and sustainable growth of communities.  The plan provides a framework for maximizing the economic and environmental benefits while preparations begin for the new rail line.

MassDOT and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development have partnered with the region’s planning agencies, the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and Old Colony Planning Council to assist communities’ proactive local planning and preservation efforts.

Technical assistance in the latest round of funding is available for station area planning and zoning; economic development and transportation; housing plans and zoning changes; and open space preservation.

The communities receiving technical assistance in the latest round of awards include:

Acushnet/ Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Easton, Fall River, Foxborough, Freetown, Lakeville, Mansfield, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, North Attleborough, Raynham, Seekonk, Somerset, Stoughton, Westport

More information about the technical assistance and the South Coast Rail Project is available at http://www.southcoastrail.com/

South Station Expansion Moves Forward

MassDOT has received the formal go-ahead from the Federal Railroad Administration to move forward with the South Station Expansion project. 

MassDOT has been awarded $32.5 million in federal funds, to be matched by $10.5 million in Commonwealth funds, to support the costs of environmental review and conceptual design for the ultimate expansion of South Station.  The project will greatly improve rail service in the most densely-populated corridor of the country by increasing track and platform space at South Station, which will allow for more frequent and more reliable Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail service in and out of Boston. 

MassDOT will also consider opportunities for air-rights development over an expanded South Station.  MassDOT is partnering with the MBTA and Massport, and working closely with the City of Boston, on this effort.

MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey told the Metro that "the Federal government can see the commitment by the Commonwealth to improve its rail system."

More information can be found at the MassDOT South Station Expansion website.  

New South Coast Rail Manager Named

MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey today announced Jean Fox as the new manager of the South Coast Rail project.

A Freetown resident, who serves on the Board of Selectmen, Fox has worked at the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board (WIB) since 2007.

At the WIB, Fox has worked closely with many community leaders and elected officials, and she has developed strong relationships with civic organizations and other community-based groups in southeastern Massachusetts.

As manager of the project to bring commuter rail service to Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton, Fox’s responsibilities will include securing funding for construction and operation of the lines, shepherding the project through the environmental review and permitting process, and keeping the public fully engaged throughout the design phase.

Fox earned her B.A. from the University of New Mexico and M.B.A. from George Washington University. She lives in Freetown with her husband, Lou, and has three grown children. In addition to the Freetown Board of Selectmen, she serves on the Bristol County Commission on the Status of Women, the South Coast Education Compact, as well as a number of school and education advisory boards in New Bedford.

She begins her new job at MassDOT Monday, September 12.

 

South Coast Rail: Preferred Route

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the South Coast Rail project, and MassDOT has adopted the Corps’ document as the state-required Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). In the document, MassDOT identifies the Stoughton rail alternative as its preferred route for providing the best transportation, environmental and smart growth benefits.

The DEIS/DIER release is the culmination of nearly four years of coordination between MassDOT, the Corps, and 10 other state and federal agencies.  The DEIS/DEIR is a combined federal and state document that compares eight alternatives for restoring public transit service to the cities of Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.  The document provides information on the transportation benefits of each of these alternatives and the potential impacts of the alternatives on noise, wetlands, rare species, air quality and other social, historic and environmental resources.

MassDOT has identified the Stoughton family of alternatives as its preferred corridor in the Preface to the document. The Corps will not determine the permittable route until later in the environmental process.

After the public comment period has closed on May 27, 2011, the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs will outline a scope of work for the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR). The Corps and MassDOT plan to continue coordinating their efforts on the project to produce a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/FEIR).

The DEIS/DEIR is available at local libraries throughout the South Coast region and by request from MassDOT.  

The South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan estimates the South Coast Rail project will stimulate nearly $500 million in new economic activity each year, while creating at least 3,500 net long-term jobs by 2030, with two-thirds of those jobs in the region. Construction of the rail project will generate an additional 7,000 to 8,000 jobs.

Learn more online at the South Coast Rail project website at www.mass.gov/southcoastrail

South Coast Rail Plan Wins International Award

The Patrick-Murray Administration's South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan has won the first-ever 2011 Charter Award Grand Prize from the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). The Corridor Plan estimates the South Coast Rail project will stimulate nearly $500 million in new economic activity each year, while creating at least 3,500 net long-term jobs by 2030, with two-thirds of those jobs in the region. Construction of the rail project will generate an additional 7,000 to 8,000 jobs. In addition to creating jobs and stimulating neighborhood revitalization, the Plan identifies over 70 sites that are important to preserve due to the presence of high quality natural resources.

CNU is a leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities, and healthier living conditions. The jury awarded the grand prize for professional projects to the South Coast Rail Corridor Plan, developed by MassDOT and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. The Charter Awards are one of the most respected urban design and development awards programs internationally.

Goody Clancy, the lead consultant that produced the Plan, is a Boston-based 100-person firm with a national practice in architecture, planning, and preservation.

The South Coast Rail Corridor Plan released by Governor Patrick in 2009 was the result of collaboration between the Commonwealth, 31 corridor communities, and three regional planning agencies, including more than 100 public meetings and events tapping the knowledge of regional residents, businesses, planners and other organizations.

Over the past two years, $300,000 in annual technical assistance grants have helped communities plan for development around stations, create housing plans and draft zoning changes to maximize the smart growth potential of passenger rail service. The Plan identifies 33 places that are priorities for new job and housing growth and 72 places that are priorities for the protection of natural lands.  

Visit South Coast Rail on the web to view the Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan and project background information.  

New Bedford Station Design Contest Winner

MassDOT and the City of New Bedford announced the winners of a contest to provide design ideas for the proposed Whale’s Tooth Intermodal Station and opened a display of the entries at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.  Mayor Scott W. Lang and South Coast Rail Director Kristina Egan presented the awards on behalf of a panel of judges.

As part of the South Coast Rail project, MassDOT and the MBTA are partnering with communities that will host new rail stations to plan the area and design the rail facilities to catalyze economic development while enhancing community character.  New Bedford will host two stations, one at Whale’s Tooth and one at King’s Highway.

Two entries received awards for Best Overall Design Response:

Students from the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School-

Jennifer Benevides, Brandon Correia, Michael Cruz, Patrick Grime, and Catarina Pedro-

created a design, left, judges said reflects New Bedford’s historic mill buildings and including a new station oriented to use solar energy to heat and daylight the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damon May, AIA, created a design, left, he says

“…captures the historic soul of free enterprising New Bedford, it builds a strong basis for reflecting and integrating with the city's complex architectural fabric, and it provides a tried and true form for meeting the energy efficient design mandate.”
 
 

 

The judges awarded Honorable Mention to six other entries for creative design features including incorporation of local art and history and green design.  MassDOT will consider elements of these concepts as it advances the South Coast Rail project toward design. 

South Coast Rail will restore passenger rail service from South Station in Boston to the South Coast.  It will address a long-standing transportation inequity, while encouraging economic development, fostering job-creation and connecting people with affordable housing options, while protecting the natural environment.  The project is guided by Sustainable Development principles and includes a regional smart growth corridor plan.  More information on the project is available at www.mass.gov/southcoastrail.

New Bedford Station Design Contest

MassDOT and the City of New Bedford announced an informal design competition for a new station near Route 18 to be known as Whale’s Tooth.  The multi-modal station will be built as part of the South Coast Rail project and may host a new local and intercity bus terminal.  The announcement was made in New Bedford City Hall by Mayor Scott W. Lang and Kristina Egan, Director of South Coast Rail, MassDOT. 

In addition to holding a design contest, the City, MassDOT, and the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority have launched an initiative to identify ways to improve local bus service and provide service to the Whale’s Tooth station.  Customer surveys are underway to gather information from riders and the larger public.  Recommendations will be released next year in the first comprehensive report ever developed for the bus authority.

The contest poster and background information about the station site are posted on the project website, www.mass.gov/southcoastrail.  Submissions are due on December 20, 2010, and must include one or two drawings or renderings and a description and rationale for the design. 

New Bedford Rail Bridges Groundbreaking

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray joined state and local officials today to celebrate the groundbreaking for the historic $20 million project to reconstruct three structurally-deficient rail bridges in New Bedford, funded by the federal stimulus Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant program.   This is the first TIGER grant agreement approved by the Federal Railroad Administration that is moving forward and also the first phase of construction that will advance the South Coast Rail project.   

"This is an historic moment for New Bedford and the future of freight and passenger rail in the region," said Governor Deval Patrick.  "I am pleased that our worthy grant application not only was successful but the first in the nation to be completed, and I wish to thank the FRA for their commitment and cooperation. 

"By partnering with our congressional delegation and local officials, our administration continues to make significant progress towards making commuter rail expansion a reality in the Commonwealth," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.  "In addition to the historic agreement with CSX and the recently awarded funding to support design for South Station's expansion, today marks another milestone as we stay on course to enhance freight and passenger rail in the Southcoast region."

The three structurally-deficient freight rail bridges are more than 100 years old allowing maximum train speeds of only 5 miles per hour.  Currently, these bridges are only used for freight operations, but the reconstruction of the bridges will also support the South Coast Rail project.  By rebuilding the Deane Street, Sawyer Street, and CoggeshallStreetBridges and widening roads below, traffic flow will be improved and freight operations will be enhanced while also supporting future passenger rail for the region.   This project represents the first construction that will directly advance the South Coast Rail project.  Construction is underway with completion in early 2012.  

Federal Rail Grants Announced

Governor Patrick and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation today announced more than $160 million in federal funding for rail expansion in the Commonwealth, including a $32.5 million grant to support the design phase of the Boston South Station expansion project.  A design is seen at left.

Awarded through a competitive process, the Federal Railroad Administration High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail grant will fund the environmental permitting and design phase of the South Station expansion project, which includes constructing seven new tracks at South Station. The expansion will support a significant increase in Amtrak Acela Express High Speed Rail service to Boston along with planned MBTA commuter rail service expansion.

"We are committed to expanding commuter rail service and improving high-speed rail in the Commonwealth, and this successful grant application will put real designs behind a visionary plan to expand South Station," said Governor Deval Patrick. "Taken together with additional awards to further plans to connect western Massachusetts and Boston rail service to other New England states, this is an exceptional day for commuters, local economies and our state's long-term strength. I am grateful to our partners in the Obama Administration and the Congressional delegation for working with my team to deliver for Massachusetts time and time again."

The Patrick-Murray Administration and the Congressional delegation also celebrated today's award of $120 million to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Corridor, including restoration of double track on the line to improve travel times, to serve western Massachusetts and provide a foundation for increased service between Boston and New York via Springfield and Worcester on the Inland Route.

Additionally, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation received a $2.24 million planning grant for the Capital Corridor between Boston and Concord, New Hampshire, a 73-mile rail corridor that would connect the two state capitols.  Maine and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority received a $600,000 planning grant for improvements to the Downeaster service between Boston and Portland, Maine. The South Station Project, New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Corridor, and the New Hampshire and Maine planning studies clearly indicate the hard work New England states are doing together to advance a regionwide vision for passenger rail.

Massachusetts and eleven other states from Maine to Virginia and the District of Columbia were also awarded a $10 million multi-state planning grant to study the role that intercity and high-speed passenger rail can play in helping improve the region's transportation network, expand capacity, relieve highway and aviation congestion and stimulate sustainable economic growth along the Northeast Corridor.

The South Station High Speed Rail Project will construct seven new station tracks, expanding South Station capacity from 13 to 20 tracks and reconfigure three critical track interlockings.

In the long term, the South Station project will provide for excess capacity to allow further service expansion beyond those currently planned for Amtrak and commuter rail. The project has received strong support from Amtrak and the U.S. Postal Service.

In July 2009, Governor Patrick and all New England Governors announced plans to work together on a coordinated regional vision for high speed rail that will connect major cities and airports, and support economic growth throughout the region. The 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, with the goal of doubling passenger rail ridership in the Northeast by 2030.