passenger rail connections among the Corridor communities. 2. Introduction • Summarizes the projected benefits, costs, impacts, and trade-offs of the improvement alternatives. 2.1. Study Rationale • Was guided by an Advisory Committee. Community leaders, transportation stakeholders, and members of the • Identified potential Next Steps and Recommendations for public have expressed a desire for an enhanced passenger rail link consideration to advance a project. among communities in western Massachusetts, central Massachusetts, MassDOT recognizes that a robust transportation system is essential to and the Boston area. This desire reflects dissatisfaction with the multi- providing residents, businesses, and visitors with mobility to satisfy their modal transportation options west of Worcester, which make economic, personal, and recreational needs. Passenger rail Massachusetts communities west of Worcester reliant on motor vehicle transportation can be an important component of a multi-modal travel via highways that are frequently congested east of Worcester. transportation system that increases travel options and reduces This can represent a significant barrier to travel from the western part of greenhouse gas emissions. the Commonwealth. Fast and frequent passenger rail service in the East-West Rail Corridor In response to these issues and concerns, the 2018 Massachusetts could enhance mobility and connectivity for Corridor communities, State Rail Plan included a recommendation for evaluation of a “Western provide residents and stakeholders with additional travel options, and Massachusetts to Boston Passenger Rail Service Study.” The East catalyze new economic opportunities, such as development around – West Passenger Rail Study, initiated by MassDOT in late 2018, stations. Improved connectivity among job centers and better mobility represents the implementation of that recommendation. for potential workers could increase employment opportunities for Passenger rail service among the communities and attractions of workers and expand the talent pool available to employers by better western, central, and eastern Massachusetts could provide greater linking the western, central, and eastern regions of the Commonwealth connectivity across the Commonwealth, enhance mobility, and create with each other and with a broader travel market. new economic development opportunities. Massachusetts’s railroad network provides passenger rail connections The East-West Passenger Rail Study: to much of the Commonwealth’s population. MassDOT has undertaken efforts to restore and/or enhance Massachusetts Bay Transportation • Identifies transportation corridors that provide new passenger rail Authority (MBTA) commuter rail service to Boston, to “gateway” cities1 connections between Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Boston, and intermediate communities. and suburban communities throughout eastern Massachusetts. • Assesses the geographic, infrastructure, and demographic MassDOT has implemented significant improvements to service conditions in the East – West rail corridor. frequency and speed for the MBTA Framingham/Worcester and • Evaluates potential improvement alternatives for enhancing Fitchburg Commuter Rail Lines, and continues to advance restoration East-West Rail Final Report Page 1 January 2021 of passenger rail service to Fall River and New Bedford through the 2.2. Study Goals South Coast Rail project. Building upon this study context and rationale, MassDOT worked with At the same time, Springfield and surrounding areas have benefited the Advisory Committee, project stakeholders, and the public to from regional intercity passenger rail improvements, including the CTrail identify the following project goals: Hartford Line, Knowledge Corridor investments, and new services such • Provide better transportation options to and from Western as the Valley Flyer pilot. Massachusetts • Support economic development throughout the East – West rail Nevertheless, passenger rail connections from Springfield and Pittsfield corridor to central and eastern Massachusetts remain limited to Amtrak’s Lake • Improve the attractiveness of Western Massachusetts as an Shore Limited. Decreased travel demand during the COVID-19 affordable place to live pandemic has led Amtrak to reduce the frequency of the Lake Shore • Reduce the number of automobile trips along the corridor Limited from one daily round trip to three round trips per week. • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air quality impacts from MassDOT is undertaking the East-West Passenger Rail Study to build transportation upon other recent transportation system initiatives; to better understand In developing and evaluating the study’s alternatives, the improved the travel demand and needs in the Pittsfield – Springfield – Worcester transportation and mobility benefits achieved relative to these goals – Boston corridor; and to develop strategies for improving access and must be balanced against project costs and impacts. The major impact enhancing economic and other opportunities for residents, businesses, and cost elements to be considered include: and visitors in the Commonwealth. The outcome of this study will be a • Extent and severity of environmental and community impacts clearer assessment of the conceptual costs and impacts of enhanced • Potential impacts to rail-based freight and MBTA Commuter Rail rail service in the corridor, and MassDOT’s conclusions regarding operations appropriate next steps. • Capital costs and operations and maintenance costs These project goals and impact considerations have shaped the Throughout the course of the study, a robust Civic Engagement process development of the study’s alternatives, as well as the evaluation has involved residents, businesses, elected officials, and other key criteria that have been used in the Alternatives Analysis, discussed in stakeholders. This process entailed public meetings, Study Advisory Chapter 4. Committee meetings, briefings of business and community groups, and on-demand information provided through a project website. 1 Massachusetts gateway cities are midsize cities facing socio-economic challenges that create obstacles to realizing their full potential. Three of the original eleven gateway cities are located in the East – West corridor: Pittsfield, Springfield, and Worcester. East-West Rail Final Report Page 2 January 2021 2.3. Study Corridor especially if existing linear corridors with lesser impacts are available. Fortunately, such existing corridors are available; these are generally Implementation of an East – West passenger rail service requires a existing east – west-oriented rail and highway transportation corridors. continuous, linear corridor that passes through the communities to be A corridor that would depend on a mixture of intercity bus and intercity served. Without a continuous corridor, it would be impossible for trains rail was also rejected as contrary to the study’s goals, particularly for the to operate between stations. It is also important that the corridor provide area west of Springfield. an alignment that is straight enough to achieve speeds required for competitive passenger rail service, and wide enough to accommodate Boston – Albany Rail Mainline the railroad infrastructure needed to provide service. The Boston – Albany rail mainline corridor offers many advantages as The definition of the East – West rail corridor begins with identifying the a potential East – West passenger rail corridor. It provides a continuous communities to be served. The East – West Passenger Rail Study is linear corridor with existing railroad track, signal, and other ancillary intended to evaluate opportunities for providing passenger rail service infrastructure. among Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, and Boston, with the potential The Boston – Albany rail mainline provides connections to all service for service to intermediate communities. communities, including existing rail stations in all the major cities: An East – West rail corridor connecting these communities requires: Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, and Boston. West of Worcester, the • A continuous corridor that can accommodate a railroad alignment rail corridor is owned by CSX Transportation, the third-largest North with connections to the service communities American freight railroad (by 2019 revenues) and the largest freight • Rail infrastructure, including tracks, signals, and other infrastructure railroad operating in New England. East of Worcester, the rail line is that supports rail service owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. • Railroad stations within the service communities The Boston – Albany corridor traverses a succession of north-south • A service provider, governance structure, and funding river systems and an ascent through the Berkshire Mountains. The The East – West Passenger Rail Study addresses the first three challenging topography required the builders to follow an alignment with requirements listed. First, the Massachusetts geography was reviewed multiple sharp curves to maintain reasonable gradients that were within to identify any potential linear corridors for connecting these service the capabilities of 19th Century construction methods. This presents communities. Creating a new, dedicated transportation corridor for challenges to operating a higher-speed passenger rail service. an East – West passenger rail service was considered and rejected. An entirely new transportation corridor would entail land acquisition Interstate 90/Massachusetts