8.0 Passenger Rail Activities

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8.0 PASSENGER RAIL ACTIVITIES

The transportation staff of the CMRPC follows various efforts to both improve and expand passenger rail operations in the greater region. This section of the Freight Planning Progress Report provides a range of materials pertaining to the development of a modern passenger rail system which will work in tandem with freight interests in serving the greater region and providing a viable mobility option for passengers.

Passenger Rail Activity materials include:

• “Finally a Rail Plan for New England” Commentary • Vision for the New England High‐Speed and Intercity Rail Network • Massachusetts High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail ARRA Projects and Applications Summary • Blackstone Valley Journey‐to‐Work Summary • Amtrak Fact Sheet for Massachusetts • “Government Should Get on Board With Passenger Rail Funding” Commentary

232 MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS AND ROBERT B. O'BRIEN

Finally, a rail plan for New England By Michael S. Dukakis and Robert B. O'Brien August 23, 2009

ALL ABOARD! The New England Rail Train is at long last leaving the station.

Earlier this month top transportation officials of the six New England states endorsed an ambitious regional rail plan that will give New England the opportunity to compete for federal stimulus funds as well as the $8 billion the president and Congress already have committed to intercity high speed rail.

The plan includes a series of projects that will connect the region’s states to one another and the region to the rest of the country. It will put thousands of people to work, revive some key urban communities, and build a more secure foundation for the region’s economic and environmental future.

The projects include:

■ New Inland Route high speed service from Boston to New York City via Worcester, Springfield, Hartford, and New Haven, which will link and revitalize some of the region’s oldest cities and most affordable and promising economic enterprise zones - as will proposed new rail service to Fall River and New Bedford. The Inland Route will also provide connecting service along a new Knowledge Corridor from Springfield north to Montpelier, Burlington, and Montreal, connecting the five-college area in and around Amherst with universities such as Dartmouth and the University of Vermont. This would encourage the kind of academic and technological excellence that is the key to New England’s future.

■ New Capital Corridor service between Concord and Boston - via Manchester, Nashua, and Lowell - which will strengthen another important group of residential and employment centers and ease the burden on a seriously overcrowded I-93 and highway system north of Boston.

■ Extension north along the Maine Coast to Freeport and Brunswick of the already successful Amtrak Downeaster service between Boston and Portland, with connections to the Maine State Ferry Service. This will support the all-season tourism industry that has long been a major element of the regional economy and quality of life.

■ Completion of environmental review and preliminary engineering for the North Station/South Station Rail Link - for which federal funds have already been requested by

233 Governor Patrick. This project would link North and South Stations by an underground rail tunnel, thereby extending the Amtrak Northeast Rail Corridor north of Boston and finally connecting all the pieces of the commuter rail system in a way that will make it possible for people to leave their cars at home and get to Logan Airport.

The regional rail plan came none too soon. The region is already behind the Midwest and California, both of which have been working on regional rail plans for at least the past decade; other parts of the country are racing to catch up. New England is even behind the rest of the Northeast Corridor, where our partner states to the south have been hard at work, with new rail tunnels between New York and New Jersey already approved, along with roadbed improvements between New York and Washington that will reduce Acela running times to about two hours.

But now that there is a rail plan for New England, it is time to act. The Obama administration has already received over $100 billion in state applications for the $8 billion on the table. The New England governors working our congressional delegations need to push - and push hard - to join California and the Midwest at the front of the federal line. And Massachusetts has a special role to play in this effort: We are the biggest state in New England, and virtually every element of the new regional rail plan is connected to or through us.

Working together, we have a not-to-be-missed opportunity to set the stage for a vibrant and expanding New England economy of the future.

Former governor Michael S. Dukakis is a professor of political science at Northeastern University and former vice chairman of the Amtrak board of directors. Robert B. O’Brien is executive director of the Downtown North Association and chairman of the North-South Rail Link Citizens Advisory Committee.

234 Vision for the New England High-Speed and Intercity Rail Network

President Obama and the U.S. Congress earlier this (CONEG) to promote a regional approach to our year included eight billion dollars for High-Speed shared complex transportation issues. CONEG has and Intercity Rail in the American Recovery and long played a leadership role in promoting passen- Reinvestment Act, making a truly unprecedented ger rail service in the Northeast. The completion investment in passenger rail service. Recognizing for the electrification of the Northeast Corridor in the interdependency of our transportation systems, 2000 is a prime example of our successful long the New England states have come together re- term advocacy for passenger rail. The development sponding to this challenge with a bold vision for of the Northern New England High Speed Rail rail in our region and commitment to work to- Corridor will fill in the gaps of the region’s net- gether to support our collective efforts. work and be a critical element in achieving the Northeast Governors’ goal to double passenger rid- ership in the northeast corridor by 2030. Expanding Rail to Support Economic Growth and Livable Communities The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strategic Plan for High Speed Rail recognizes the need for This New England vision of the future regional rail incremental improvements in building the National system shares the national goals of ensuring safe High Speed Rail Network. The New England and efficient transportation choices that will seam- states are well-positioned to meet this need as a re- lessly link our communities with an integrated rail gion with already-developed rail infrastructure. and transportation network. The rail system will Steps are now underway to improve existing rail provide a foundation for economic competitive- service while providing a foundation for New Eng- ness and promote livable communities through a land’s High Speed and Intercity Rail Network. network of High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail routes connecting every major city in New England with smaller cities and rural areas and in- A Vision for the Future: New ternationally to Montreal. The fast and frequent rail Englandʼs Priority Projects service provided by this integrated rail and trans- In the near term the New England states expect to portation network will promote energy efficiency advance several High Speed and Intercity Passen- and environmental quality by convincing people ger Rail initiatives, enhancing both passenger and to leave their car behind while further enhancing freight service across our region. movement of freight throughout the region. Our network will be created through integration of a • The Downeaster service which operates on a fully developed Northern New England High route included in the Northern New England Speed Rail Corridor with the planned Empire Cor- High Speed Rail Corridor between Boston and ridor improvements and the existing High-Speed Portland is a national model for the successful Rail service along the Northeast Corridor. introduction of new intercity passenger rail service. The states along the Downeaster Route are working together to improve the infrastruc- Decades of Collaboration to ture with the goal of reducing the travel time Strengthen New Englandʼs Regional between Boston and Portland to two hours and Rail Network increasing capacity to support 7 daily round For decades our states have successfully worked trips. With our support, Maine will further ex- through the Coalition of Northeastern Governors tend the Downeaster service to Brunswick,

The Vision for New England High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail was collectively developed by the State Departments of Transportations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

235 • Providing the connection between Providence gion the greater rail network in the northeast and Boston to TF Green Airport in Rhode Is- through connections in New York City, Albany and land via the Northeast Corridor as well as en- Montreal. hancing passenger service south of Providence Finally, on the Northeast Corridor we are working will build on the long term transportation part- closely with Amtrak and all the northeast states to nership between Rhode Island and Massachu- make improvements to the nation’s original high setts. In addition, Rhode Island is working with speed rail line. The Northeast Corridor Infrastruc- Amtrak on capacity improvements along the ture Master Plan will define the intercity, com- Northeast Corridor in Southern Rhode Island muter and freight rail projects and investment that will permit bi-directional overtakes for in- levels needed to improve reliability and quality of tercity passenger rail, benefiting all users of the service between Boston and Washington. corridor while providing for future commuter rail infrastructure at Kingston Station. The states of New England have long recognized the critical importance of rail as a vital foundation of our regional economic success. We pledge col- Planning Today To Prepare Us for lectively to implement this future rail vision in a the Future transparent and collaborative process of consulta- As longstanding transportation partners the New tion and regular meetings. Our region as a result England states understand that these initiatives will remain a national model of successful inter- must connect to a larger regional plan. The existing state transportation cooperation. and successful master planning process for the Northeast Corridor provided a model for the needs of the larger New England Rail Network. The New England states propose complementary efforts to plan the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor within the next year. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont will develop corridor plans for the Boston to New Haven and Boston to Montreal segments of the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor via the In- land Route through Worcester and Springfield. The Inland Route is also important as New England’s largest freight rail corridor. With balanced re- sources and careful planning, the New England states are committed to grow both freight and intercity passenger rail on this critical route. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachu- setts will develop corridor plans for the northern half of the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor, which extends from Boston to Portland and beyond and from Boston through Concord, NH, Vermont and terminating in Montreal. The New England states, will seek funding from the new High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program to implement these corridor plans. These initiatives in New England serve to connect our re-

236 New England Vision for High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail

CANADA Montreal

Auburn to Montreal LAKE Long-Range Rail CHAMPLAIN Corridor

Burlington St. Johnsbury

Western Montpelier Littleton NEW Corridor Downeaster YORK Extension Vermonter Auburn Service

Brunswick

LAKE Portland GEORGE MAINE Rutland White River Jct. Downeaster Improvements Downeaster Service NEW HAMPSHIRE Concord VERMONT Western Portsmouth Corridor Manchester

Knowledge Vermonter Corridor Service Capitol Corridor Albany Connector Between Connecticut MASSACHUSETTS North and South River Line Regional Rail Systems Improvements Inland Route

Pittsfield ImprImprovementsovements ATLANTIC Boston OCEAN Worcester South Coast Rail Alternatives

Springfield Provincetown CONNECTICUT Plymouth Providence NEW South YORK Hartford County Springfield- Rail New Haven NortheastNortheast Improvements RHODE Corridor ISLAND Capacity ImprImprovementsovements Northeast New Haven Line New Haven New London Corridor Bridge Improvements Service

LEGEND LONG ISLAND SOUND NEW Proposed Projects and Improvements JERSEY Designated High-Speed Rail Corridors Newark New York City Existing Amtrak Service ATLANTIC Other Rail Lines NEW OCEAN YORK V.4 7-09-2009

237 Maine. This important connection will increase from across northern New England. Eventu- passenger rail access from Boston through to ally, this service will extend north to White the mid-coast region, via a Maine-owned River Junction, VT and to Montreal fulfilling Rockland Branch, reducing congestion along the vision of this designated High-Speed Rail I-295 and Route 1. Corridor. • The Downeaster Extension Project in the reha- • Vermont’s Western Corridor will provide direct bilitation of approximately 30 miles of existing service down the western side of the state con- rail to Class 3 to support the extension of the necting Burlington, Rutland, and Bennington Amtrak Downeaster intercity passenger rail with Albany and New York City via the Em- service from Portland to Brunswick with a stop pire Corridor. in Freeport. In Brunswick the Downeaster • Massachusetts will return the Vermonter to its will connect to Rockland, via Maine Eastern original route through western Massachusetts Railroad excursion service on via the Knowledge Corridor. the state-owned Rockland This effort, supported by the Branch, and subsequently our State of Vermont, is a vivid ex- island communities via the ample of the ongoing collabora- Maine State Ferry Service. tion of two states working The Downeaster Extension together to improve service and project will improve regional increase the number of rail pas- mobility, promote economic sengers. The Knowledge Corri- development and expand dor between Springfield and tourism opportunities along White River Junction provides the entire corridor from Amtrak Downeaster Train connection between the Boston Boston through to mid-coast Maine. to New Haven and the Boston to Montreal legs • New Hampshire’s Capital corridor will create of the Northern New England High Speed Rail easily accessible passenger rail service for Corridor. more than 500,000 residents of Southern New • Through Connecticut’s leadership, we under- Hampshire with stops in the cities of Concord, stand the importance of restoring the double Manchester, Nashua and Boston. The rail line track and replacing bridges on the Springfield will serve as the backbone of a technology and Line that serves the cities of New Haven, Hart- communications corridor extending up New ford, and Springfield in order to provide the Hampshire’s Merrimack Valley, creating eco- foundation for the larger rail network. Ex- nomic development and new, livable commu- panded train service will provide key connec- nities outside of Boston. More than one million tions between New York City, Bradley riders annually are estimated to use the rail International Airport and will allow further de- service in its first year, significantly relieving velopment of the inland high speed rail line be- highway congestion on Interstate 93, improv- tween Boston and New York. This line, part of ing air quality and lowering fuel consumption. the Northeast Corridor as well as the Northern The rail line will also stop at Manchester- New England High Speed Rail Corridor, ben- Boston Regional Airport, creating a much- efits from the significant amount of work al- needed connection for tourists and travelers ready done by Connecticut.

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Massachusetts High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail ARRA Projects and Applications

1. Knowledge Corridor Track 1 Pre App and Track 2 Corridor Pre App The Knowledge Corridor Pre App proposes a $65 million project to relocate the Vermonter and provide for additional train frequency on the Conn River Line. Stations would be located at Northampton and Greenfield. The Track 2 Corridor Pre App includes project elements that would be required to run additional train frequencies on the line in the future. Massachusetts further supports Vermont’s Pre Apps submitted to improve the Vermonter Route between MA/VT state Line and St. Albans Vermont.

2. Inland Route Track 1 Pre App and Track 1 Springfield Station Pre App The initial Inland Route application seeks funds for Project Level Engineering and the Environmental Process for a substantial upgrade to Boston to Springfield route. This would be the logical next step for the development of the Inland Route. The Springfield Station Pre App is for passenger access and rail capacity improvements at Springfield Station. These improvements which while benefiting the existing Amtrak service are needed to successfully integrate the Inland Route, Knowledge Corridor and Springfield New Haven projects at Springfield.

3. Downeaster - Track 1 Pre App for Merrimack River Bridge & Track 2 Pre App for entire Downeaster corridor with NEPRA Massachusetts has submitted a Pre App on the track 1 project to rehabilitate the Merrimack River Bridge in Haverhill. In addition, Massachusetts is jointly submitting a Track 2 Corridor Pre App for the entire route with Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NEPRA) and the states on the Downeaster route.

4. Northeast Corridor - Track 2 Pre App with Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York The Northeast States, with Amtrak’s assistance, have submitted a Track 2 corridor application for the Northeast Corridor (Boston-Washington) using the work already completed in the in the Northeast Corridor Master Plan Process. The specific Massachusetts projects included in this application are the 3rd track from Readville to Canton Junction, Ruggles Station Congestion Project and South Station Capacity enhancements in Boston.

TEN PARK PLAZA, BOSTON, MA 02116-3969 TELEPHONE: (617) 973-7000 TELEFAX: (617) 973-8031 TDD: (617) 973-7306 WWW.MASS.GOV/EOT 239 5. South Coast Rail Track 2 Corridor Pre App Massachusetts has submitted a Track 2 Corridor Project Pre App for South Coast Rail in addition to other federal funding opportunities for this project.

Additional rail projects that Massachusetts supports through the Regional Vision:

6. New Haven Hartford Springfield (Springfield Line) Track 1 and Track 2 Pre Apps The Connecticut Department of Transportation has submitted Pre Apps on the Springfield Line with support from Massachusetts. The initial track 1 project would restore the double track on the Springfield line. The Track 2 project would create an electrified High Speed Rail Corridor from Springfield to New York that would be integrated with the Inland Route service between Boston and Springfield.

7. Capital Corridor (Boston to Montreal) Track 1 and Track 3 Pre Apps The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has submitted Pre Apps on the Boston to Montreal High Speed Rail Corridor. The Track 1 Pre App seeks to implement service between Boston and Concord, NH as the Captial corridor. The Track 3 Pre App will plan for the reconstruction of the through route between Concord and White River Juction Vermont.

240 2000 Census: Journey to Work Data

Non‐Blackstone Valley Central MA Residents Commuting to Rhode Island

Central Subregion Total Number Percent Commuters to RI of Total WORCESTER 75,250 202 0.3% 75,250 202 0.3%

North Subregion Total Number Percent Commuters to RI of Total BARRE 2,438 4 0.2% HOLDEN 10,255 42 0.4% OAKHAM 876 0 0.0% PAXTON 2,173 13 0.6% PRINCETON 1,782 4 0.2% RUTLAND 3,345 0 0.0% W BOYLSTON 3,054 24 0.8% 23,923 87 0.4%

Northeast Subregion Total Number Percent Commuters to RI of Total BERLIN 1240 5 0.4% BOYLSTON 2050 25 1.2% NORTHBOROUGH 7375 11 0.1% SHREWSBURY 15638 63 0.4% WESTBOROUGH 8,506 64 0.8% 34,809 168 0.5%

West Subregion Total Number Percent Commuters to RI of Total BROOKFIELD 1,564 0 0.0% E BROOKFIELD 1,105 3 0.3% HARDWICK 1,212 0 0.0% LEICESTER 5,461 33 0.6% N BROOKFIELD 2,279 0 0.0% NEW BRAINTREE 505 0 0.0% SPENCER 6,119 0 0.0% W BROOKFIELD 1,743 0 0.0% WARREN 2,132 0 0.0% 22,120 36 0.2%

241 2000 Census: Journey to Work Data

Blackstone Valley Residents Commuting to Rhode Island

Southeast Subregion Percent Number of Total BLACKSTONE 933 20.2% DOUGLAS 104 2.7% GRAFTON 79 1.0% HOPEDALE 58 1.9% MENDON 114 4.1% MILLBURY 50 0.7% MILLVILLE 181 13.1% NORTHBRIDGE 66 1.0% SUTTON 119 2.8% UPTON 6 0.2% UXBRIDGE 305 5.2% 2015 4.1%

Southwest Subregion Percent Number of Total AUBURN 35 0.4% CHARLTON 20 0.3% DUDLEY 43 0.8% OXFORD 30 0.4% SOUTHBRIDGE 35 0.5% STURBRIDGE 8 0.2% WEBSTER 43 0.6% 214 0.5%

Journey‐to‐work data for Blackstone Valley communities has been assembled to assist in demonstrating possible demand for improved rail service in that area of the state. It can be seen here that, with the exception of border towns Blackstone, Millville, and Uxbridge, very few people actually commute from the region into Rhode Island for work.

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