Wachusett Rail Station breaks ground in Massachusetts
Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
MassDOT
Officials in Massachusetts broke ground on the new Wachusett Commuter Rail Station in West Fitchburg, which will extend the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line 4.5 miles to the west. The project will also construct a new train layover facility in Westminster.
“One of my goals at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has been to improve transportation options for the entire commonwealth,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard Davey. “Bringing the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line farther west and increasing parking capacity will give customers more options for access into Boston and other points east.”
This Federal Transit Administration American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery funded project will help to improve mass transit options to the communities west of Fitchburg, improve the region’s economy by reducing the commute time from the Montachusett Region to the Boston area job market, increase the supply of commuter rail parking for riders in the western part of the region and improve the operation and capacity of the Fitchburg Line train layover facility.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will operate the passenger train service to Wachusett as an extension of the current Fitchburg Line service.
Contracts totaling $26.7 million have been awarded to S&R Construction to complete the project. The current schedule calls for construction to be substantially complete by the end of 2014, with initial commuter rail service commencing after completion of construction.
