Rail connector to NYC holds promise for economy

The idea of a new rail line connecting the Berkshires to New York City, as proposed by the Housatonic Railroad Co., has local business and economic development officials pondering the possibilities, the Berkshire Eagle reports. The concept, they say, holds substantial promise for the local economy.

Passenger rail between
New York and Berkshire County was quite popular through the early 1900s, but it
faded away as popularity of the automobile bloomed. The idea of reviving it had
been talked about periodically, but until September, nothing serious had been
put forward.

Last summer, Canaan,
Conn.-based Housatonic Railroad commissioned a survey that found a passenger
rail connecting New York City, northwest Connecticut and the Berkshires could
generate two million one-way riders a year.

"This line could
provide access to an enormous potential market," said Colin Pease,
Housatonic Railroad’s vice president for special projects. "And once you
have that ease of movement, you’ll have more people interested in living in Berkshire
County."

He stressed that the
concept is very early in the planning stage.

Railroad officials
estimated that refurbishing the rail line, rail cars and rail stations could
cost more than $200 million. The rail service itself could create about 200 jobs,
with as many as 800 more created by growth in businesses around the train
stations, Pease said. He added that if everything went well and financing fell
swiftly into place, the line could be operational in five years, although it
would more likely take longer.

Local officials are
watching the process, and have expressed concerns about the company’s ability
to obtain financing and hope to see more data that supports the survey results.

Housatonic Railroad
officials anticipate train stops in Sheffield, Great Barrington, Lee,
Stockbridge, Lenox and Pittsfield. In Great Barrington, the existing train
station, right behind Town Hall, is privately owned, but initial discussions
have occurred about bringing it back on line for the rail service, Pease said. The
stations in Lenox Dale and Stockbridge, currently in use by the Berkshire
Scenic Railway, could also be put to use for the New York line. And some
discussion has occurred about the idea of building a new station in Housatonic
that would serve residents of a paper mill that could be redeveloped within
walking distance.

Pease said the Sheffield
stop would probably be more of a transportation hub serving travelers from
Connecticut, the southern Berkshires and from east and west on the turnpike. Essentially,
any station serving a rail line connected to New York would provide business
opportunities in serving a new growth market of visitors and second homeowners.

Typically, depending on
the demographics, a station for a new rail line could attract businesses like
coffee shops, dry cleaners, restaurants, doughnuts shops, car and bicycle
rental agencies, newsstands, hotels, and wireless phone stores. Residential
development has been known to occur near train stations to reduce the need for
travel to the stations.

And while people in the
Berkshires are finding their way through the early stages of this process, one
town in Texas is experiencing the tail end of a decades-long effort to bring
commuter rail to the suburb north of Dallas known as Carrollton.

Three stations were built
there to handle commuters heading to downtown Dallas and back. During the past
10 years, Carrollton city officials and residents have been setting up zoning and
land-use plans to facilitate new business and residential development near each
station.

Carrollton planning
officials have estimated that up to $1 billion in new business development is
likely to occur at the three stations combined over the next 30 years. Retail,
office and residential opportunities were identified and some of the projects
are already under way, with the commuter rail line slated to start operating
next month.

In Berkshire County,
Pease said each station would serve different economic development goals,
depending on the wishes of each community.

Kevin O’Donnell, town
manager of Great Barrington, said the New York passenger line wouldn’t generate
the development of many new businesses, since most of the downtown area is
already populated with successful retail and office operations. But he did say
it would make those businesses even more successful.