APPENDIX – PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED MassDOT East-West Rail Study ID No. (date) Name Address/Affiliation Email Comment (verbatim if email or comment form, see PDFs for letters) Source 1/31/2019 Rob Kearns University of [email protected] [see PDF] Attached is a resolution by the University of Massachusetts Student Governmet Association in support of East Email to Scott Hamwey Massachusetts West Passenger Rail Service Amherst 3/12/2019 Andrew Riedl [email protected] I think it is fantastic that this crucial rail service is finally being studied and as a resident of Eastern MA, I would love to Springfield Public Meeting have the option to visit my family in the springfield area by rail. There are people in Eastern MA who are very much in 3/12/19 Comment Form favor of this project and want to be involved. I am very excited to watch it progress. 3/12/2019 Betsy Johnson [email protected] Alternatives need to consider implementation timeline as well as cost. Sooner the better. Springfield Public Meeting 3/12/19 Comment Form 3/12/2019 Robert Kearns Umass SGA [email protected] Hello, I am Robert Kearns, a student of Umass Amherst and a member of student government association. I would like Springfield Public Meeting east-west rail to travel to and from work, home, classes, volunteer and internships in Boston Area. I provide survey of 3/12/19 Comment Form Umass students and an SGA resolution in support of East-West rail. Having Bus connection to UMass/5 colleges to springfield and/or Palmer would be great. [see PDF] 3/12/2019 Andy Anderson Amherst College [email protected] High Speed SPG-BOS is my primary interest. I'm an academic and this would facilitate interactions between the Springfield Public Meeting academic communities in the pioneer valley and boston. (Yale is nice, but I like harvard better :) ) Especially once 3/12/19 Comment Form additional trains become available SPG-NOHO in the near future. Limited stops, of course. I do also think it is worthwhile putting in local service along the existing ROW, especially since that can be provided much sooner than high-speed. 3/12/2019 Eric Bascom East Longmeadow, [email protected] 1. It there a way for the cost report to be released in Jan 2020? As a tax payer im concerned about tax in/creases and Springfield Public Meeting MA costs for investments. 2. Will pittsfield please be a taken out of discussion? It should be part of a northern route study. 3. 3/12/19 Comment Form Why can I travel from fitchberg to boston and not greenfield to boston? 3/12/2019 Eric Bascom East Longmeadow, [email protected] 1. How is this train high speed rail if it goes through hills and mountains to boston? 2. Can we get all the costs by jan Springfield Public Meeting MA 2020 to allow politicans to debate it?? 3/12/19 Comment Form 3/12/2019 Byran Farr Historic Rt.2 108 [email protected] Consider too those already living in communities inbetween rail stops - like Chester, MA. Husband commutes via car to Springfield Public Meeting Skyline Tr. Chester, MA pittsfield from chester 3/12/19 Comment Form 3/12/2019 Scarlet Lamottle Palmer Rail Streering [email protected] I am a resident of Palmer and it's dissappointing that Western Mass is not a priority. There was mentions of Springfield Public Meeting Committee - college "investments… Investments." we need to INVEST in the entire commonwealth of Massachusetts. You've spent 24.3 3/12/19 Comment Form grad Billion on the Big Dig. That benefitted eastern mass which is a small part of mass. Spend money on an investment that is a billion more times beneficial! I believe that a stop in Palmer, MA would be extremely beneficial to the economy and stopping there would bring plenty of people. Palmer was once known as the spot of the seven railroads and many people in Palmer are pushing for a stop to not only improve Palmer economically, but would also put the surrounding towns on the map. Lets spend money on a stop that would be beneficial to all western MA 3/12/2019 Heidi C. Bara Cititzens for Palmer [email protected] I am for highspeed rail with a stop in Palmer. As a resident of Palmer it would improve all surrounding towns in the Springfield Public Meeting Rail Stop region, 21 towns, about 195,000 people it would affect. Bringing more jobs, giving these residents opportunities to work 3/12/19 Comment Form in Boston or Springfield with an easier commute. The area would benefit greatly from this economic development. providing more jobs and affordable housing. 3/12/2019 David O'leary Sierra Club - MA - [email protected] The Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter supports expanded east-west rail service. As noted during the presentation, we Springfield Public Meeting Transportation understand that there are various challenges and we look forward to updates and engaging actively in the decision 3/12/19 Comment Form Committee making process. More detailed and formal comments will be submitted separetly. [see PDF] 3/12/2019 Margaret Montoni [email protected] 1) we have the opportunity to completely change the face of western mass. Young people leave here everyday for Springfield Public Meeting "opportunities", things to do etc. The jobs follow the people, the people follow the jobs. So we are in a crazy circle in our 3/12/19 Comment Form state. Let's all work together to make massachusetts (and New England) "the palce to be". 2) the only true change will come from high speed-people won't commute every day w/ 2+ hours each way. 3) I hope I am around to see this happen. It will be Amazing - Let's set massachusetts apart from the rest of the country. 3/12/2019 Kerry Jackson West Springfield, MA [email protected] I know everyone would love superfast high spped rail. But if the "slow" version gets us to south station boston in 1:50 Springfield Public Meeting that is fantastic. It was 1hr from commuter rail in framingham. Get the rail going ASAP if it means "slow" I'd be very 3/12/19 Comment Form happy getting emails and work done on the train commute. Missing demographic : the thousands of western MA people who already commute into boston. Page 1 of 89 APPENDIX – PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED MassDOT East-West Rail Study ID No. (date) Name Address/Affiliation Email Comment (verbatim if email or comment form, see PDFs for letters) Source 3/12/2019 Tayna Neslusan Sturbridge, MA [email protected] tThe most important thing is to connect the towns in western and central massachusetts to boston. We need to Springfield Public Meeting prioritize accessibility over speed and probide public transit options. The lack of access to our state capital impedes not 3/12/19 Comment Form only our economic development but our ability to engage politically. 3/12/2019 Barbara Huntoon Chester, MA [email protected] Thank you for the study - looking forward to the study continuing and making E-W rail a reality. Western MA needs the Springfield Public Meeting economic growth boston needs housing relief; I90 traffic - particularly westfield to boston needs relief. The rural areas of 3/12/19 Comment Form western mass are ready and desperate for growth. please consider a rail that benefits not only high speed commuters, but the rural areas of the state. and please consider chester as a stop along the rail. it could be truly a win - win for the entire state. 3/12/2019 Jeremy Fedors [email protected] East-West passenger rail would be useful to me for trips from worcester to springfield, since I travel south from there on Springfield Public Meeting amtrak on occasion. If some trains were closely in sync with amtrak arrivals, it would be an improvement over taking 3/12/19 Comment Form the bus to springfield. I am also thinking that the seperate ROW high-speed rail would be especially good, as the spped would convince more drivers to ditch the car. at least if this combined with improvements to local transit systems. maybe some of the smaller towns could use buses in sync with the trains, in order to travel to the express/local trains stations. P.S. please don't give in to anyone trying to water down plans for the sake of cutting budgets, if it severly limits speeds. people want to ride fast and on-time trains. 3/12/2019 It would be of great benefit to add real substance to these presentations. The (illegible) approach to presenting material Springfield Public Meeting through content free sliders wastes everyone's time. 3/12/19 Comment Form 3/12/2019 Moira Murphy Resident + Coldwell [email protected] Consideration to innovative technology have sessions w/ Elon Musk on what his thoughts would be to get this SMALL Springfield Public Meeting banker realtor state connected. We need to think outside the box and get MIT students + professors to get on board with creativity. 3/12/19 Comment Form The maglev or variations to it should be considered. 3/12/2019 Joshua Brown [email protected] East West rail service can also benefit sports fans whether if its college or professional. Springfield Public Meeting 3/12/19 Comment Form 3/12/2019 John Garrett 284 river road, S. [email protected] Dear Gov. Baker, I would encourage you to forget about peter pan bus if you want your governorship remembered. In Springfield Public Meeting Deerfield, Ma all seriousness it is vital to have a real effort to connect our commonwealth.