Massachusetts State Rail Plan Deval L. Patrick, Governor Timothy P. Murray, Lieutenant Governor Jeffrey B. Mullan, Secretary & Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Davey, Administrator, Rail & Transit Division prepared for Massachusetts Department of Transportation prepared by HDR Engineering, Inc. 695 Atlantic Ave, Second Floor Boston, MA 02111 September 2010 Massachusetts State Rail Plan Acknowledgements This comprehensive rail plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was funded by and prepared for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The research, analysis, findings, and plan development were guided by MassDOT staff. The rail plan was developed by a consultant team led by HDR Engineering, Inc. Subcontractors included: HNTB; Economic Development Research Group; Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.; Portscape; Egan Consulting Group; Transit Safety Management; and Planners Collaborative. The following individuals and organizations assisted in the development of the Massachusetts Rail Plan by providing information, expertise, and facilities: Freight and Rail Plan Working Group Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Brad MacDougall Boston Shipping Association, Richard Meyer Coalition of New England Companies for Trade, Joan M. Padduck CSX Transportation, Maurice O’Connell Federal Express, Robert Quinn Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – Massachusetts Division, Michael Chong Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies, Timothy Brennan Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), John D. Ray Massachusetts Motor Transportation Association, Anne Lynch Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), Andrew Hargens and Michael Leone Massachusetts Railroad Association, Michael Rennicke Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council, Louis Elisa, II Northeast Association of Rail Shippers (NEARS), Joe Gearin Pan Am Railways, Sydney Culliford Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, P. Scott Conti and Marie Angelini UPS, Neal Rossi Regional Planning Agencies Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Alison Church Cape Cod Commission, Clay Schofield Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, Richard Rydant Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Maureen Mullaney Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Anthony Kormornick Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Eric Bourassa Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, Brad Harris Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission, Michael Burns Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, David Ginns Old Colony Planning Council, Charles Kilmer Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Timothy Brennan Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, Adam Recchia All report documents can be accessed on the MassDOT web site at: http://www.mass.gov/massdot/freightandrailplan September 2010 Massachusetts State Rail Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ..................................................................................................................................... vi Massachusetts State Rail Plan Contents ............................................................................. xx Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose of the Massachusetts State Rail Plan .................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Vision of the Massachusetts State Rail Plan ...................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Goals and Objectives of the Massachusetts State Rail Plan ............................................... 1-3 Chapter 2 Overview of Approach and Methodology .................................................. 2-1 2.1 Data Collection and Analysis ............................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Public and Stakeholder Participation Process .................................................................... 2-2 Chapter 3 Rail Trends and Issues................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 National and Regional Context .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Freight Rail National Context ........................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.2 Freight Rail Regional Context ....................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.3 Passenger Rail National and Regional Context ............................................................. 3-4 3.2 Benefits of Freight and Passenger Rail in Massachusetts .................................................. 3-6 3.2.1 Energy Impacts .............................................................................................................. 3-7 3.2.2 Environmental Concerns and Carbon Reduction Initiatives .......................................... 3-9 3.3 System Use ....................................................................................................................... 3-10 3.3.1 Overview of Freight Flows and Modal Share .............................................................. 3-11 3.3.1 Statewide Commodity Flow Analysis for Rail ............................................................ 3-14 3.3.2 County and Regional Analysis of Freight Flows ......................................................... 3-20 3.3.3 Freight Flows Forecast, Including Through Traffic .................................................... 3-22 3.3.4 Freight Influences Impacting Future Goods Movement by Rail ................................. 3-27 3.3.5 Rail Capacity Constraints ............................................................................................ 3-28 Chapter 4 Freight Rail System Inventory .................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 System Description ............................................................................................................ 4-2 4.2.1 Statewide Summary ....................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.2 Ownership and Operations ............................................................................................ 4-4 4.2.3 Principal Lines and Facilities in the Commonwealth .................................................. 4-11 4.2.4 Facilities ....................................................................................................................... 4-14 4.3 Freight Rail System Constraints and Opportunities ......................................................... 4-20 4.3.1 Main Line Capacity Constraints .................................................................................. 4-20 4.3.2 Yard Infrastructure and Connectivity .......................................................................... 4-21 4.3.3 Shared Use ................................................................................................................... 4-22 4.3.4 Existing Vertical Clearance Conditions for Intermodal............................................... 4-23 4.3.5 Weight on Rail ............................................................................................................. 4-25 4.4 Freight Rail Opportunities ............................................................................................... 4-27 Chapter 5 Passenger Rail System Inventory ............................................................... 5-1 5.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 System Description ............................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2.1 Statewide Summary ....................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.2 Ownership ...................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.3 MBTA Commuter Rail Service ......................................................................................... 5-3 i September 2010 Massachusetts State Rail Plan 5.4 Amtrak Intercity Passenger Service ................................................................................... 5-9 5.5 Tourist Railroads .............................................................................................................. 5-16 5.6 Stations and Intermodal Connections............................................................................... 5-18 5.6.1 South Station ................................................................................................................ 5-18 5.6.2 North Station ................................................................................................................ 5-19 5.6.3 Back Bay Station ......................................................................................................... 5-19 5.6.4 Route 128 Southside Station ........................................................................................ 5-19 5.6.5 Anderson Regional Transportation Center .................................................................. 5-19 5.6.6 Worcester Union Station .............................................................................................. 5-19 5.6.7 Springfield Union Station