Mass. applies for federal HSR funds for South Station expansion

As part of the Vision for the New England High Speed and Intercity Rail Network, the Patrick-Murray Administration in Massachusetts has submitted formal application for federal High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail funds for the design phase of the Boston South Station Expansion Project.

The $32.5-million grant
application, if approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal
Railroad Administration, would fund the environmental permitting and design
phase of the expansion project, which includes relocating the U.S. Postal Service
facility and constructing seven new tracks at South Station. The expansion will
support a significant increase in Amtrak Acela Express High Speed Rail service
to Boston along with planned MBTA commuter rail service expansion.

"The vision of dramatically
improved high-speed rail service in the Commonwealth is on track to become
reality, and a lynchpin is the expansion of South Station," said Governor
Deval Patrick.

"Our administration
understands the importance of expanding commuter rail service for the Central,
Metrowest and Southcoast regions," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.
"This application offers a great opportunity to seek additional funding
for infrastructure and design improvements at South Station, and we thank our
congressional Mass. delegation for their continued support and
partnership."

The South Station High
Speed Rail Project will:

• Construct seven new
station tracks, expanding South Station capacity from 13 to 20 tracks;

• Relocate the U.S. Postal
Service facility to facilitate the expansion;

• Reconfigure three
critical track interlockings.

In the long term, the
project will provide for excess capacity to allow further service expansion
beyond those currently planned for Amtrak and commuter rail. The project has
received strong support from Amtrak and the U.S. Postal Service.

The South Station Project
application is part of the latest round of applications under the High-Speed
and Intercity Passenger Rail program and follows earlier successful grant
applications by Massachusetts and other New England states.

In January 2010, the
Patrick-Murray Administration announced the U.S. Department of Transportation
awarded $70 million in High Speed Rail federal stimulus funds for final design
and construction of the "Knowledge Corridor" along the Connecticut
River rail line in western Massachusetts. The $70-million grant award was part
of $485 million in stimulus funds invested to improve rail lines in the
Northeast Corridor.

Governor Patrick and all
New England Governors in July 2009 announced plans to work together on a coordinated
regional vision for high-speed rail that will connect major cities and
airports, and support economic growth throughout the region. The Vision for the
New England High Speed and Intercity Rail Network lays out key projects to
strengthen passenger and freight rail service along new and existing rail
corridors. The goal is to double passenger rail ridership in the Northeast by
2030.