Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Proposed multi-state high-speed rail system moves one step closer to reality

Date: 6/9/2010

June 9, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- Imagine a high-speed rail system that would connect Montreal, Canada, to station stops in Vermont, along the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, through Con-necticut and points south to Washington, D.C.

Now, imagine being able to board a train in Greenfield, Northampton or Holyoke instead of having to travel to Springfield.

According to transportation officials speaking at a meeting conducted at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) on June 2, the concept isn't science fiction -- it has already started.

Residents and public officials from throughout the region gathered to listen to Timothy Doherty of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and James Redeker of the Connecticut Department of Transportation present a status report on a multi-state partnership that would bring high speed rail through the north-south rail corridor.

The goal, the two men said, is to have in place in the next 20 years an intercity rail network with tracks that would allow for speeds up to 110 miles per hour.

Redeker noted that currently train travel "isn't very attractive" due to the speed of current trains and the inflexible scheduling.

"There's just not enough of it," he added.

He said the reason modern intercity rail is needed is the Northeast Corridor -- the rail system from Washington, D.C., to Boston is the most densely settled in the nation and suffering from the greatest road congestion.

Redeker said state transportation authorities understand "there is no way to build your way out of [congestion] from a highway point of view" to handle the increasing numbers of vehicles.

Additional rail use would also take the strain off of the air service in the region, he added.

The plan between Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut would be to restore double tracking between New Haven, Conn., and Springfield to allow for more trains; resume service to Montreal, Canada; and restore the "inland road" between Springfield and Boston.

"Travel time is the guts of the program," Redeker said.

Once the plan is completed travel time between White River Junction, Vt., and New York City would be cut by two hours. The Springfield to New York City trip would be cut by a half hour.

Doherty explained the federal government has made high-speed rail a priority with Pres. Barack Obama's increased funding available for projects, from $1 billion to $8 billion.

Doherty said he anticipates the state will receive more federal funding, although Redeker cautioned that additional grants shouldn't be considered "done deals."

Doherty said from the political and legislative points of view, "I've seen huge amounts of interest in this program, this opportunity."

In the first round of funding through a competitive grant process, Massachusetts was awarded $70 million to restore a route that would connect Springfield with Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield would be used for trains to and from Vermont. Currently the "Vermonter" Amtrak train goes from Springfield to Amherst, bypassing the larger cities.

Doherty said the project will shortly be entering the final design stage and anticipates a ground breaking will take place this fall. Under the current plan, the construction will be completed in October of 2012.

He described the rail upgrade and route change as "a good project ... very straight forward and easy to implement."

Although the plan did not include a station stop in Holyoke, Doherty said in future grant requests funding would be allocated to establishing a station in Holyoke. Kathy Anderson of the Holyoke Office of Economic Development attended the meeting and said Holyoke is moving forward on the municipal side to prepare for the re-opening of a rail station.

Two locations have been identified -- one at the end of Dwight Street and another being the city's former train station, a historic building now owned by the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department designed by the famed 19th century architect H.H. Richardson.

Doherty said the ultimate goal is to provide multiple levels of transportation service with coordination between trains and bus companies to provide "multiple levels of service."

"What you want to see is a whole bunch of travel options," he said.

Timothy Brennan, the executive director of the PVPC, said, "I see it as a change agent for the region for the better."

One audience member commented at the end of the meeting, "Just bring it."