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Date: 3/29/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission hosted its fourth of six meetings on March 21, as members prepare to create the final report for the East-West Passenger Rail Study.
The meeting at Springfield Technical Community College was led by the commission’s co-chairs, state Rep. William Straus (D-Mattapoisett) and state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn).
The Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission was established by the Legislature to investigate and gather public testimony regarding potential public entities with the ability to design, permit, construct, achieve and provide passenger rail service proposals for the study’s final report, which is due on June 30.
By hosting public meetings, the commission has been able to look into specific issues involving passenger rail service in Western Massachusetts. State Rep. Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield) attended the March 21 meeting and shared that he has been a longtime supporter of this initiative.
According to a recent study conducted by Stanford University and the University of Chicago, it is estimated that 30% of the workforce will remain remote once the coronavirus pandemic subsides. Ramos said this opens a “myriad” of possibilities for the city of Springfield, making it an attractive destination for economic development and growth, as well as much more affordable for companies to relocate to compared to Boston or New York.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno also submitted written testimony in which he stated, in part, “Key passenger rail stops along the east-west passenger line would provide a catalyst for economic growth throughout the area. The iron is hot, and now is the time to strike. This project would open up a myriad of positive possibilities, including opportunities for economic development, jobs, and housing.”
State Rep. Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown) said East-West Rail is not just a transformational opportunity from a transit perspective, but “presents a transformational economic development opportunity for the entirety of Western Massachusetts.”
As Saunders represents the 7th Hampden District, he noted that the entirety of that district will benefit from the East-West Rail.
He went on to recognize US. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) for his “steadfast support” on this and bringing it to what it is today.
State Rep. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) said the northern and southern route would both benefit her district in terms of the East-West Rail. “Amherst is smack [dab] in the middle and it’s equally accessible to get to Greenfield and Springfield, and we would like both,” she shared.
Domb said, “We need enhanced public transit in Western Mass. We need more rail, and we need more bus routes. Regional transit authorities are also in great need of our attention from the Legislature, and we need increased rail.”
She pointed out some benefits of the East-West Rail in her region, which would include people coming to the various colleges, attending conferences, applying for jobs, looking for homes and participating in programming of the performing arts.
Domb also noted that many people in Amherst — including her — must commute to Boston for work and a passenger rail would establish a greater connection.
State Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) whose legislative district includes Palmer, pointed out Gov. Maura Healey’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal which included funding for two stops along the rail line that have not had station improvements in many years: Pittsfield and Palmer.
“Palmer is not the crossroads of New England, it is the gateway to Western Massachusetts,” Oliveira said. “A Palmer stop on the west-east rail line — that has been included in every proposal — is the best possible link to connect communities around the five colleges … that stretches from the Berkshires to Boston.”
Oliveira said the benefits for the city of Springfield are great and there is so much the Union Station stop can do for his and state Sen. Adam Gomez’s (D-Springfield) districts to connect them to the state capital.
Chicopee Mayor John Vieau was unable to attend the meeting, but Communications and Special Projects Coordinator Chloe Soto shared information on his behalf – noting that Vieau is in full support of the project.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger said she has been hearing that the East-West Rail is a project, although it is a program of projects. “There are a lot of different elements that need to happen to enhance rail service. Some of this is incremental where we’ll see benefits in the shorter term that don’t necessarily require everything getting done but we’ll be able to build gradually,” said Slesinger.
Background
Slesinger explained that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed on Nov. 15, 2021. Around this time, MassDOT came out with its governance white paper which recommended a rail authority – Amtrak – be the operator of the service given their statutory rights to operate on freight tracks.
Within the past year, CSX completed its acquisition of Pan Am Railways, which addressed the state’s priorities.
On Aug. 10, 2022, MassTRAC signed on for funding for the inland route.
“Last summer we were awarded $1.75 million from the [Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements] Program for preliminary engineering and environmental analysis for the Springfield Track Reconfiguration Project,” Slesinger said.
She explained that MassDOT is supporting the city of West Springfield’s Front Street Grade Crossing Elimination Project by offering 10% of the $24 million and hoping to hear more about that soon.
Slesinger noted that MassDOT applied in November 2022, for $108 million for the [Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements] Program for the Connecting the Commonwealth: Early Actions for the Inland Route Project.
For this inland route project, Slesinger said the goal is to improve speeds and capacity on the Boston and Albany line between Worcester and Springfield, make capacity improvements that support the passenger service and help CSX and the Grafton/Upton Railroad with their freight services and have two daily Amtrak round trips operating from Boston to New Haven via Springfield.
The estimated project cost is $135 million. MassDOT is willing to fund $18 million, Amtrak will fund $9 million, and the Federal Railroad Administration grant will cover $108 million.
The estimated annual ridership on inland route trains is 69,600. Slesinger said the estimated travel time savings on the Lake Shore limited between Boston and Springfield is around 18 to 20 minutes.
She explained that this information is a quick overview of what has been going on, as the commission has been and continues to deliberate. With two hearings left, the commission encourages people to submit written testimony on the matter.