Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo joined in celebrating the completion of new train station platforms in Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, in preparation for the expansion of Amtrak’s Downeaster line, which will begin serving both cities this fall. Administrator Szabo was joined by Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt and local business leaders.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors selected Daniel Grabauskas, chairman and senior strategic adviser of the Bronner Center for Transportation Management and former general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, as the finalist for the agency’s chief executive officer position.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation released fare increase and service reduction proposals for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, aimed at closing a projected $161 million budget gap for Fiscal Year 2013.
United States Department of Transportation awarded $511 million in TIGER III discretionary grants to 46 capital construction projects in 33 states, of which $279 million of funding will go to rail-related projects.
CSX, NJ Transit and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service on the East Coast has been affected by the severe autumn snowstorm over the weekend.
CSX freight service operating in Massachusetts and other areas of the Northeast has been slowed significantly. Customers with traffic that originates, terminates or passes through this region should expect delays of 24-48 hours as crews clear lines of snow and fallen trees.
Widespread commercial power outages also are impacting service. CSX equipment and personnel have been deployed across affected lines to restore service as quickly as possible.
NJ Transit’s Morris & Essex Lines, including the Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton Line rail service will remain suspended Monday, October 31, while crews remove hundreds of trees and repair miles of overhead wire damage.
An aerial inspection was made of the lines, which revealed the extensive damage caused by heavy, wet snow and strong winds that brought down the trees and overhead wires. Crews will continue to work around the clock today to make the necessary repairs.
MBTA commuter rail customers who use the Worcester/Framingham, Fitchburg and Haverhill lines should expect delays due to damage caused by the weekend storm. Delays will range anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.
The Federal Transit Administration has sealed a $75 million agreement that will put an estimated 260 people to work making long-overdue improvements to the 50-mile Fitchburg commuter rail line in Massachusetts, one of the state’s oldest passenger rail lines still in service.
The investment will increase the train line’s maximum speed by nearly 20 miles per hour, while greatly improving safety and on-time performance to 17 communities and 18 stations. If passed by congress, President Obama’s American Jobs Act could make more projects like this possible throughout the country.
FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff signed the agreement with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to provide the federal share of the $159 million project, which will significantly reduce travel times and improve connections between suburban Fitchburg and the MBTA’s Red Line at Porter Square just outside Boston.
Nearly 20 percent of the current line, 9.6 miles, travels on a single track. Maximum train speed is 60 miles per hour and significantly slower in many sections along the Fitchburg line, which is now the oldest, longest and slowest running rail branch within the MBTA system. It also has the worst on-time performance in all of MBTA.
Planned improvements include:
• Track upgrades that will allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 79 miles per hour
• Construction of high-level platforms for better accessibility
• Replacement and updating of grade crossing warning systems
• Construction of new and modified interlocking
• Transfer of the Waltham Tower to MBTA Control Center
• Bridge repair and replacement
The $75 million in FTA Small Starts funds has already been appropriated and to date FTA has awarded $7.8 million for the engineering and design of the project. The Fitchburg Line will continue to operate during the modernization project, which is expected to be completed before 2015.
The Fitchburg Line is also the recipient of $59.2 million from the department’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER I) program. The TIGER grants will fund a 4.5-mile extension of the line and construction of a new Wachusett Station.
The Federal Railway Administration awarded the Massachusetts Department of Transportation $32.5 million to expand and enhance the historic South Station in Boston. The station currently operates beyond its capacity and expects an estimated 50 percent increase in high-speed intercity passenger rail travel in the coming years along the Northeast Corridor, making expansion necessary.
"These dollars will allow South Station to expand and meet the needs of the traveling public," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Revitalizing and modernizing South Station is not only crucial to accommodating projected population growth, it will create jobs and grow the region’s economy."
The grant will allow MassDOT to complete all necessary environmental reviews as well as preliminary engineering activities for the station expansion, including:
• Development of a new layover facility for train storage during off-peak times.
• Improvements to existing tracks, platforms, interlockings, passenger facilities and other infrastructure.
• Demolition and relocation of an existing, adjacent U.S. Postal Service General Mail Facility to construct new passenger facilities including tracks, platforms, waiting areas with connections to existing platforms and tracks and the adjacent South Station Bus Terminal.
• Design passenger enhancements through improved streetscape, pedestrian, bicycle, local transit and vehicular facilities in and around the station, including the re-opening of Dorchester Avenue for public use.
• Develop a cost estimate for the construction phase of the project.
• Consideration of opportunities for joint public/private development over an expanded South Station.
South Station offers travelers access to Amtrak’s high-speed Acela service as well as Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail, intercity bus, rapid transit and bus rapid transit services, including direct service to Boston Logan International Airport. MassDOT will contribute $10.5 million to this phase of the project.
"This is not only a great project for Boston’s MBTA commuters, but for all rail travelers in New England," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "Amtrak’s Acela, Northeast Regional and Lake Shore Limited all utilize South Station, handling more than 1.3 million passengers in 2010."
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, transit service availability on the East Coast is varied, from regularly scheduled service, to reduced service and even terminated service.
WMATA
Washington Metropolitan Area Tranist Authority is currently operating rail service on a regular schedule. Other than expected delays due to weather, WMATA ran its schedule throughout the weekend. Customers needing elevator access are advised to check wmata.com before they travel for the status of their local station elevators. Elevator and escalator availability may be temporarily impacted by local power issues.
Metrorail ridership was down about 67 percent Saturday, August 27, as compared to last Saturday.
WMATA’s Operations Control Center is continuing to monitor the system for any storm-related after effects.
Customers are encouraged to check wmata.com for service updates and follow @wmata on Twitter for the latest service information.
MBTA/MBCR
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service is operating on a regular weekday schedule, effective August 28. Having already removed more than one hundred trees or large branches from track rights-of-way August 27, MBTA and Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company personnel worked throughout Saturday night, clearing the rails and restoring power to signal systems and overhead wires.
Normal service has resumed on the Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines. Minor delay delays on the D branch due to ongoing signal system repairs between Riverside and Newton Centre Stations. In the event that the signals remain down at the start of service personnel will be in place to institute manual operation.
All downed trees have been removed from the D Branch. However, due to ongoing tree removal activities being conducted by the Town of Newton and NStar, the Riverside Parking facility will remain closed. Customers are urged to seeking alternative parking at other facilities such as Woodland Station. Transit Police will be on scene to assist and direct customers.
On commuter rail, minor signal problems continue on the Worcester and Fitchburg Lines, but are not expected to result in significant delays.
Amtrak is conducting tree removal activities on the Providence line, with no significant delays expected.
NJ Transit
New Jersey Transit rail service is suspended until further notice as a result of residual impacts of Hurricane Irene, except for the Atlantic City Rail Line. NJ Transit will operate bus and light-rail service on a modified schedule on Monday, August 29. Crews worked around the clock August 28 to assess storm damage and make necessary repairs.
"We only cancel service when we absolutely have to and Irene has forced us to do so on most of our rail lines," said NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein. "Our crews will work around the clock to clear trees, restore power and repair flood damage. We will get the trains running again as soon as we can.
"The transportation system throughout the state has been severely stressed. Our goal is to resume service as quickly and safely as possible, however, customers should not expect a normal weekday Monday for transit services as crews continue to assess damage around the state, particularly on the railroad," said Weinstein.
MTA
The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority is providing limited service August 29.
New York City Subway- With very limited exceptions, service has resumed across the subway system on all lines, including service to and from Far Rockaway. However, service will be less frequent than normal and customers should expect longer waits and more crowded trains. Frequency of service will improve over the course of the day.
Staten Island Railway- Staten Island Railway service resumed regular service early August 29 between St. George and Tottenville.
Long Island Rail Road- The Long Island Rail Road is operating near-normal service this morning on six of its branches, but customers are advised to expect some cancellations and some trains operating with fewer than normal complement of cars. The morning rush service is being restored to and from:
• Babylon
• Hicksville (on the Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch)
• Ronkonkoma
• Port Washington (half-hourly service west of Great Neck; no service east of Great Neck)
• Hempstead
• West Hempstead
Service remains suspended to and from:
• Oyster Bay
• Port Jefferson
• Long Beach
• Far Rockaway
• Montauk (east of Babylon)
• Greenport (east of Ronkonkoma)
Metro-North Railroad- Metro-North Railroad cannot operate regular service on any of its three lines. There is still significant damage to many portions of the Metro-North system. Local streams and the Bronx River continue to overflow their banks and crews are working to clean up three mudslides.
HRT
Hampton Roads Transit in Virginia re-introduced limited transit services on Sunday, August 28 after a check of local conditions found no significant damage to HRT systems caused by Hurricane Irene.
Light-rail service began at noon Sunday. Ferry service across the Elizabeth River also began at noon.
Sunday HRT enforced a fare-free period for light rail, but starting Monday, August 29, HRT will begin collecting fares on The Tide.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick joined Congressman Michael Capuano, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and state and local officials to commence groundbreaking for the $15.9 million Talbot Commuter Rail Station, as part of the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line Rehabilitation Project. The project will create an estimated 120 construction jobs, with project completion scheduled for 2013.
"The Fairmount Line investments are creating jobs and improving transportation options for residents across the community," said Governor Patrick. "This is a smart investment that will pay off for decades to come."
The Talbot Avenue Station is the third of four commuter rail stations under construction as part of the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line Rehabilitation Project. The Talbot Avenue Station will include new high level platforms, canopies, passenger shelters, benches and windscreens and electronic message signs. Sidewalks adjacent to the station will also be reconstructed with new wheelchair ramps at major intersections.
"It’s great to see public transportation investment in the heart of our City. Improving the Fairmount Line has long been a top public transportation priority for my Administration and I want to thank Governor Patrick and his team for their commitment to this issue," said Mayor Menino. "This new station, along with the recent renovations at Uphams Corner and Morton Street and the work underway at the Four Corners/Geneva station, will greatly improve transit access for the underserved communities of Dorchester and Mattapan."
The Talbot Avenue and Woodrow Avenue railroad bridges will also be replaced later this year in conjunction with the Talbot Avenue Station project. The bridges will be replaced using the fast-track method. The 9.2 mile Fairmount Commuter Rail Line runs from South Station through Dorchester and Hyde Park, terminating at the Readville Station. It is the only MBTA Commuter Rail Line that exclusively serves the City of Boston.
"The strides we are making with the Fairmount Line projects is testament to the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to making quality improvements to public transportation that make a real difference for residents," said MassDOT Transportation Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan.
Amenities at the new station will include closed circuit television (CCTV) video surveillance cameras, police emergency call box systems, public telephones and an off street drop-off/pick-up area.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the South Coast Rail project and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has adopted the Corps’ document as the state-required Draft Environmental Impact Report. In the document, MassDOT identifies the Stoughton rail alternative as its preferred route for providing the best transportation, environmental and smart growth benefits.
"The Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to delivering the economic and quality of life benefits that South Coast Rail will provide, and today’s release of this environmental document is a critical step forward in obtaining the environmental clearances we need to bring long-awaited commuter rail service to the South Coast", said MassDOT Transportation Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan.
"After an exhaustive process involving all affected communities what we found is that there’s only one route that provides high quality service while at the same time advancing the state’s air quality, energy and climate goals," said MBTA General Manager and Rail and Transit Administrator Rich Davey. "And that is the Stoughton alternative."
The DEIS/DIER release is the culmination of nearly four years of coordination between MassDOT, the Corps and 10 other state and federal agencies. The DEIS/DEIR is a combined federal and state document that compares eight alternatives for restoring public transit service to the cities of Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford. The document provides information on the transportation benefits of each of these alternatives and the potential impacts of the alternatives on noise, wetlands, rare species, air quality and other social, historic and environmental resources.
MassDOT has identified the Stoughton family of alternatives as its preferred corridor in the preface to the document. The Corps will not determine the permittable route until later in the environmental process.
The Corridor Plan estimates the South Coast Rail project will stimulate nearly $500 million in new economic activity each year, while creating at least 3,500 net long-term jobs by 2030, with two-thirds of those jobs in the region. Construction of the rail project will generate an additional 7,000 to 8,000 jobs. In addition to creating jobs and stimulating neighborhood revitalization, the plan identifies over 70 sites that are important to preserve due to the presence of high quality natural resources.
State and federal officials celebrated the new Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service to T.F. Green Airport today. The "T", a new commuter rail, connects Warwick, Providence and Boston.
There will be six stops per day, Monday through Friday, during the peak hours of 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., and 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The fare is $2.25 each way for travel between Providence and T.F. Green, and $8.25 each way for travel between T.F. Green and Boston.
Commuters told the Associated Press they’re happy to have a new way to get into Boston, rather than driving up congested Interstate 95 or taking Amtrak from Kingston.
The MBTA’s Providence/Stoughton line is expected to expand in the future to North Kingstown and have 10 stops each day.
David A. Boaté, P.E., has joined Gannett Fleming, an international planning, design, and
construction management firm. Based in the firm’s New York City office, Boaté
serves as vice president and director of transit and rail for the Northeast
Region, responsible for the daily operational management, business development,
strategic growth, and profitability of the firm in the transit and rail
industries.
As part of the Vision for
the New England High Speed and Intercity Rail Network, Governor Patrick and
members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation announced more than $160
million in federal funding for rail expansion in the Commonwealth, including a
$32.5-million grant to support the design phase of the Boston South Station
expansion project.
Though the local permitting
process for the project seemingly crawls along, officials at CSX Transportation
are hopeful that their $100-million plan to expand the company’s freight yard
behind Union Station will be completed by 2012, the Telegram reports.
In a world of functional
but mundane MBTA entrances, the portal for inbound travelers at Copley Square
is one of a kind: a filigreed framework of flowers and curlicues in cast iron,
at once classically inspired and reminiscent of the Art Nouveau kiosks that
distinguish the Metro in Paris, the Boston Globe reports.
Amtrak is working on its
railroad, spending tens of millions of dollars replacing thousands of the
concrete ties that hold up its tracks because the ties are failing, the Providence,
R.I., Journal reports.
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 MBTA board has approved
a deal that allows the state to purchase a section of railroad track to expand
commuter rail service from Worcester to Boston through Ayer, but passengers won’t
be able to travel that route any time soon, the Telegram and Gazette reports.
Vice President Joe Biden
and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced funding for 191 new
Recovery Act transit projects in 42 states and Puerto Rico that will help
transform the nation’s infrastructure and support thousands of jobs across the
country. In making the over $600 million in new awards, the Federal Transit
Administration met an aggressive deadline to award 100 percent of its Recovery
Act transit formula dollars by March 5.
