21 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

http://www.masstrans.../...n=3&id=6534

[KevinKorell]

Wachusett is still within the town of Fitchburg, about 4-1/2 miles southwest of the Fitchburg Transportation Center where trains now terminate. Work began earlier this year, for a target start date of early 2012.

Details about the project are here (.pdf file requires Adobe Reader)

[KevinKorell]

Fitchburg, MA Sentinel and Enterprise, 10/19/10:

'Economic engine' for Fitchburg

Joining state and local officials in breaking ground Monday on the Wachusett Commuter Rail project, U.S. Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood hailed the extension of the Fitchburg rail line into West Fitchburg as an "economic engine" and relief for beleaguered Boston-bound commuters.

That story is here.

[EdFindlay]

Wachusett is still within the town of Fitchburg, about 4-1/2 miles southwest of the Fitchburg Transportation Center where trains now terminate. Work began earlier this year, for a target start date of early 2012.

Details about the project are here (.pdf file requires Adobe Reader)

It's barely within the City of Fitchburg, just over the city line from neighboring Westminster...a whole other beast of an area than the urban area that the trains currently terminate in. The biggest thing with the location is the fact that it is less than a quarter mile at most from Rt. 2 which is the major road for that neck of the woods. It's going to take cars off of Rt. 2 but it also will take some of the pressure off of the neighboring cities and towns.

Only too them 23 years for Pan Am/Guilford/Boston and Maine to finally allow the line to be extended...maybe in another 23 they will allow it extended further back to Gardner where it used to end

Edited by EdFindlay, 06 November 2010 - 12:42 AM.

[KevinKorell]

Only took them 23 years for Pan Am/Guilford/Boston and Maine to finally allow the line to be extended...maybe in another 23 they will allow it extended further back to Gardner where it used to end

My take is that the Fitchburg-Gardiner segment lost rail service because of Route 2; the highway had recently been upgraded to freeway standards. It takes a much more direct route than the rail line. If one looks at a satellite picture of the rail line, particularly between Wachusett and Gardiner, it's mountainous terrain. In fact it even goes through a horseshoe curve! So the location of the Wachusett station, I agree, will help to take some traffic off Route 2, but I don't know that a re-extension back to Gardiner would be worthwhile, when folks will be able to drive much quicker along Route 2 to park at the Wachusett station.

[KevinKorell]

From what I'm seeing it appears that this extension has been pushed back from 2012 until sometime in 2013, perhaps as late as October of that year.

[EdFindlay]

From what I'm seeing it appears that this extension has been pushed back from 2012 until sometime in 2013, perhaps as late as October of that year.

Per multiple sources including the initial federal funding grant that timeframe puts it on schedule actually, completion was supposed to be for December of 2013 with initial land acquisition is supposed to be starting or already completed. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2014 with the last road and parking upgrades as well as the final completion of the new layover facility.

Any delays are going to be with the layover facility, but that shouldn't delay the exension

Like the Wickford Junction extension it's not an MBTA project rather it is being done by the Montachusett RTA- that area's regional transit authority. The T's role is paying for the track upgrades for the line which had to be regardless of the extension.

Edited by EdFindlay, 15 April 2012 - 05:35 PM.

[KevinKorell]

Thanks, Ed. Worse than I thought but probably best they take the time to do it right. Layover facility is important, but they still have Fitchburg not too far away. At very worst they could still begin the service but deadhead to and from where they layover now. It's not as far as the issue with the Downeaster in Maine, which looks like it will hold up full implementation of Brunswick service for a while.

[Sloan]

http://www.telegram..../106159764/1246

[Sloan]

From Brandeis University (Waltham, MA)

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is currently conducting construction on the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line, which serves Brandeis and is the primary way for students to get to and from Boston and other surrounding towns.
The rail improvements may cause minor delays at points throughout this semester and the upcoming years, but should not result in any vast delays or service issues to students traveling into Boston.

http://thebrandeisho.../articles/12896