114 replies to this topic

[EdFindlay]

Massachusetts does have history with public works projects turning into "pork." The editors are wise to raise the cost issue in the hopes that this worthwhile project doesn't get out of hand.

Sloan


http://www.patriotle...t-commuter-rail

It'll likely be more like the Greenbush Line boxing match than the Big Dig boondoggle...the environmental reports and mitigations as well as the guarenteed lawsuits and litigation lasting for years causing delays in construction causing fights with the towns over the impact that the residents are themselves causing...

[Sloan]

Commuter rail ridership falls on lines south of Boston

For four years in a row, ridership on all three commuter rail lines serving communities south of Boston has been falling.
Average weekly ridership for the Middleboro and Plymouth lines fell 27 percent in that time period. The newer Greenbush line saw ridership fall at a much lower rate — 11 percent in four years after seeing passenger numbers grow between 2008 and 2009.

Read on to discover why this article ties into the proposed South Coast rail line.

http://www.tauntonga...south-of-Boston

[Sloan]

The Southeastern Massachusetts Commuter Rail Task Force is scheduled to meet on Feb. 27.
The meeting is set to take place at 3 p.m. at Bridgewater State University, in the East Campus Commons, Room 112.

http://www.tauntonga...-in-Bridgewater

[CNJRoss]

ProgressiveRailroadin.com, 9/24:

Corps of Engineers releases final environmental statement on Massachusetts' South Coast Rail project

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has adopted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) as its Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the South Coast Rail project. The department also has identified the Stoughton rail alternative as its preferred route, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced yesterday.

The FEIS/FEIR released yesterday is the culmination of more than five years of coordination between Patrick's administration, the Corps and 17 other state and federal agencies, the governor said in a prepared statement.

Continue.

[Sloan]

TRACKING THE TRAIN: Going electric would cost South Coast rail extra $550 million

STOUGHTON —
While Gov. Deval Patrick is clear about his preferred route for the South Coast Rail through Stoughton to extend service to commuters in Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford, his administration has not yet declared whether the state will be full steam ahead for an electric- or a diesel-powered train

Much as I love electric traction, I believe the T should also consider natural gas as a fuel. It's abundant and is "green."

Sloan

http://www.wickedloc...tra-550-million

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 11/15/13:

MassDOT to begin track improvements in preparation for South Coast Rail service

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is beginning construction to rehabilitate the Fall River and New Bedford rail lines as a necessary step toward providing South Coast Rail service, according to the agency's blog.

Continue here.

[Sloan]

MassDOT Board approves South Coast Rail project management contract

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors has awarded a $210-million contract for the South Coast Rail Project to Vanasee Hangen Brustlin/HNTB Corporation, officially moving the project from planning into construction.

Glad to see the line and its two branches will be electric-powered.

Sloan

http://www.rtands.co...nt=Full Article

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 6/20/14:

MassDOT board OKs $210 million contract for South Coast Rail project

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) board on Wednesday awarded a a $210 million contract to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB)/HNTB Corp. for the South Coast Rail project. The contract officially advances the project from the planning stage to construction.

Here is that story.

And to add on to what Sloan said above, yes it's interesting that South Coast Rail is being built as an electrified railroad. North of Canton Junction it obviously will use the existing Amtrak wires. But I guess it's cheaper to build it now as electric than to open it with diesel trains and then electrify it later. But it must be pointed out that the existing MBTA commuter service to Providence and Wickford Junction operates strictly with diesel engines despite being under the catenary that Amtrak uses.

[Sloan]

 

 

• MBTA commuter rail work smooths out bump on Dean Street

• TAUNTON — By the time vehicular traffic returns to Dean Street before the end of the weekend, a familiar and annoying railroad-track bump near Arlington Street will be gone.

  It’s anyone’s guess when MBTA commuter rail finally will connect Boston’s South Station to Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.

http://www.tauntonga.../NEWS/150817314

[Sloan]

 

 

• Baker wants serious look at South Coast Rail route alternative
• While Gov. Charlie Baker found some reasons to favor an alternative route for commuter rail service to New Bedford and Fall River, members of the MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board opted Monday to wait for more information on how to address the slow-moving transportation project.

I post here because this is Taunton, MA related.

 

http://www.heraldnew...ute-alternative