A TRANSPORTATION VISION FOR MASSACHUSETTS

Concord Medford Lynn Hillside Wellington

Manchester Porter Square Nashua Harvard Square Union Lechmere Square

Greenfield Fitchburg Lowell 3 Pittsfield

Longwood Medical Area Dudley Worcester Boston Square GREATER BOSTON

Springfield Forest Hills Ashmont

Wareham/ Hartford Providence Buzzards Bay Mattapan

Fall Existing passenger rail service River Hyannis New Proposed transit expansion Bedford

New Haven Green Line Extension Extending the Green Line Better Fund Regional from Lechmere Station to the Medford Hillside neighborhood, as Transit Authorities well as creating a “spur” to Union Square in Somerville, would increase transit ridership by an estimated 10,000 trips each On Cape Cod, in the Berkshires and across day—improving regional air quality and supporting opportunities the state, the Commonwealth’s 15 regional for smart growth. A major improvement to the project would be transit authorities have funding challenges, extending service to Porter Square in Cambridge. Springfield-Boston Commuter RailUpdating existing with many running structural deficits. rail lines for high speed, reliable commuter rail service to western Regional bus service provides public High Quality Urban Ring A major component lacking Massachusetts would reduce traffic congestion along the Turnpike and transportation in 231 Massachusetts cities in greater Boston’s transit system is the connection of the spokes offer a better way to get to Boston and points in between. and towns outside of the MBTA system. of the MBTA. This would improve transit access and increase Unfortunately, the RTAs are chronically economic development in parts of greater Boston where traffic Pioneer Valley Rail Commuter rail connections along the underfunded as costs have outpaced the congestion stifles innovation. While early phases involve Bus Rapid I-91 corridor, linking the cities of New Haven, Hartford, Springfield, rate of inflation. Transit, the focus must be on dedicated rail to capture the true Holyoke, Deerfield, Greenfield and eventually destinations in Vermont, benefits of the project. would reduce traffic congestion and boost economic growth. Blue Line Improvements Connecting the Blue Line to the Red Line at South Coast Commuter Rail Fall River and New Bedford are disconnected Charles/MGH station would allow for seamless connections in the heart of downtown from Boston and dependent on congested highways. A rail extension would not only help Boston, easing congestion at transfer stations and averting an additional 1,400 revitalize the local economy, it would attract up to 2,900 riders each day, saving approximately automobile trips per day. At the other end, extending the Blue Line to Lynn would not 2.6 million gallons of gasoline and nearly 23,000 metric tons of averted carbon dioxide only increase transit ridership by an estimated 7,900 daily riders system-wide, but it emissions each year. would also provide an economic boost to a post-industrial city.

The Commonwealth is evaluating the alternative routes, with the goal of launching service in North-South Rail Link Between North and South stations, there is a 2016. The extension could also revitalize rail to Cape Cod along existing tracks to Wareham one-mile gap preventing northside and southside lines from connecting. Creating and Buzzards Bay. Eventually, rail service could be restored as far as Hyannis or Falmouth. a seamless connection for Northeast high-speed rail would make the region more competitive and ease traffic on New England’s busiest highways. Planning conducted Worcester Regional Rail With the second largest population in New England, earlier in this decade estimated that the rail link would replace more than 50,000 Worcester has great potential to serve as an economic hub for the growing biotech and automobile trips daily and save more than 16 million hours of travel time annually. renewable-energy industries. Linkages to Providence in the south and Manchester in the north could provide the next growth corridor radiating from Boston. Fairmont Line Addional Stations Revitalizing existing stations and adding four new stops will provide rail access to some of the most low-income and Rail Connection to New Hampshire New Hampshire sends thousands transit-dependent areas in the city. The use of diesel multiple-unit cars should be of commuters to Massachusetts each morning, clogging Bay State highways and polluting used to reduce end-to-end travel times on the line by as much as 20 percent and our air. A 2006 report found that 13 percent of New Hampshire commuters work in increase ridership by 27 percent, while reducing fuel consumption and dramatically Massachusetts, with the vast majority of those commuters driving alone. A rail linkage curbing air pollutant emissions. between Lowell and various points in southern New Hampshire would be a smart alternative to automobile travel. Dudley Sq. to Mattapan Rapid Transit Rapid transit service should be brought to the Dudley Square/Mattapan corridor, ideally dedicated rail High Speed Intercity Rail High-speed rail, with trains traveling upwards of service that could also replace the current Silver Line bus on Washington Street, 200 mph, could revolutionize transportation in the northeast, such as connecting Boston and and connect a poorly served part of the city to downtown Boston. Montreal in as little as four hours. Eventually all of the region’s hub cities should be connected by high-speed rail. Arborway Restoration Light rail service should be restored along the old E-branch of the Green Line beyond Heath Street to Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain. Route 128 Transit Four private shuttle buses currently provide transit along the Route 128 business corridor, but with so much of the state’s industry located along the beltway a more dedicated service should be established. www.masspirg.org