New Bedford, MassDOT seek designs for Whale’s Tooth Station

The City of New Bedford and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have set up an informal design competition for a new station off Route 18 to be known as Whale's Tooth. The multi-modal station will be built as part of the South Coast Rail project and may host a new local and intercity bus terminal. Mayor Scott W. Lang and Kristina Egan, Director of South Coast Rail, MassDOT, made the announcement in New Bedford City Hall.

"As one of the largest
stations on the planned South Coast Rail line, Whale’s Tooth station is
expected to generate millions of dollars in new economic development,"
said Transportation Secretary Jeffrey B. Mullan, "The Patrick-Murray
Administration is happy to work with the city and its residents to create a
great place for people and for transportation."

"The City is looking
for inspirational designs that are consistent with the history, character, and
feel of New Bedford," said Mayor Lang. "We want the station to
incorporate green building features and reflect the character of nearby
neighborhoods, as well as the city’s plans for the future. We have vibrant art
and education communities in the region and want to gather ideas from these
talented groups of people."

In addition to holding a
design contest, the City, MassDOT, and the Southeastern Regional Transit
Authority have launched an initiative to identify ways to improve local bus
service and provide service to the Whale’s Tooth station. Customer surveys are
under way to gather information from riders and the larger public. Recommendations
will be released next year in the first comprehensive report ever developed for
the bus authority.

The contest poster and
background information about the station site are posted on the project website,
www.mass.gov/southcoastrail. Submissions are due on December 20, 2010, and must
include one or two drawings or renderings and a description and rationale for
the design.

South Coast Rail will
restore passenger rail service from South Station in Boston to the South Coast
Cities of Fall River and New Bedford. It will address long-standing
transportation inequity, encourage economic development, foster job creation
and connect people with affordable housing options, while protecting the
natural environment. The project is guided by Sustainable Development
principles and includes a regional smart growth corridor plan. Whale’s Tooth
would be one of the new stations providing service to Downtown New Bedford.