[53] Contract #1 for 57 turnouts was awarded to Progress Rail on December 14, 2018. [8], In the 1980s - during the first expansion of commuter service in Massachusetts in decades - the restoration of the lines to New Bedford and Fall River was proposed. The South Coast Rail will offer a reliable Commuter Rail connection between Southeastern Massachusetts and Boston. Id love to be wrong on this, but I think it will be sort of obsolete as it opens up, said Marc Pacheco, a longtime state senator from Taunton who said hes been working toward the restoration of train service since the 1980s. [11] The Draft Environmental Statement certificate was received in November 2000; the EPA confirmed that Stoughton was the only practical route but required a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). See the South Coast Rail Noise Program Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Riders will be able to take a one-seat tripno transfers neededfor the first time since the late 1950s. Contract #5 ($27 million) will reconstruct a bridge carrying Route 24 over the rail line in Taunton. The project will respond to all calls. [66], Between Easton and Raynham, the proposed route passes along an embankment that is currently used for off-road vehicles through the Hockomock Swamp. On. View progress videos and updated fact sheets about the South Coast Rail project. But today, faced with a warming climate caused in part by auto emissions, and some of the worst car traffic in the nation, the MBTA has been slowly rebuilding the regions once-profitable train network. The South Coast Rail team anticipates meeting with a broad range of community organizations throughout construction. [55] By May 2020, Fall River Secondary work was 20% complete, while Middleborough Secondary/New Bedford Main Line work was 5% complete. 24 August, Boston MA - Phase One of the SCR project will reconstruct existing freight rail lines connecting to the operating . [3] However, in 1997 the Expanded Alternatives Analysis showed vastly increased costs - $410 million via Attleboro, $426 million via Stoughton, or $312 million via Middleborough. Phase 1 will provide riders with a one-seat ride between Boston and Fall River, and between Boston and New Bedford, for the first time since the late 1950s. The South Coast Rail Project is funding the development of instructive videos for railroad safety, geared to schools and the general public. New tracks with a route length of 16.4 miles (26.4km) will be laid from Stoughton Station to Weir Junction in Taunton, where the South Coast rail will use the routes of the New Bedford main line and Fall River secondary line, both operated by CSX Transportation, to connect New Bedford and Fall River. NOTICE TO BIDDERS. The plan estimated project costs at $1.435 billion (including $163 million for procuring additional rolling stock and $31.6 million for expanding South Station) with opening in December 2016. [52] Completion of the $9.8 million contract is scheduled for February 2021. [51], Phase 1 was divided into eight major construction contracts. Work will also take place on the Fall River Secondary Line to overlay signals and communications. Involving a multitude of stakeholders, it's also one of the more complex undertakings to date by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). The project will be rolled out in phases: Learn more about the South Coast Rail Program. The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. The contractual scope includes programme management, data collection, partial preliminary design, environmental permitting process and public outreach. The South Coast Rail project will restore commuter rail service between Boston and southeastern Massachusetts by the end of 2023. This work included the following: The Fall River Secondary Line will be extended to Fall River through Freetown and Taunton, providing direct service between Fall River and Boston. Crews are reconstructing 12.1 miles of the Fall River Secondary Line, which is currently a freight line, to lift speed restrictions and allow for Commuter Rail service. Phase 1 Middleborough Secondary Line and New Bedford Main Line, SCR Spring 2022 Fact Sheet - Spanish (Espaol), SCR Spring 2022 Fact Sheet - Portuguese (Portugus), 2021 Accomplishments and Look Ahead video, When Rail Ruled Southeastern MA and Will Again vignette, Assonet River Bridge Installation Timelapse video, Construction of the Fall River Secondary Line, which will connect Fall River to Boston, Construction of the New Bedford Main Line, the Middleborough Secondary Line, and the signal system for the entire Phase 1 corridor, which will connect Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River to Boston, Installed 46 culverts as part of the drainage system, Ordered and stored long-lead special track materials in advance to reduce construction delays, Constructed five wetland mitigation areas and began monitoring their success, 10 new grade crossings and fourinterlockings, Two new stations and a layover facility for storing trains overnight, Six rail bridges, constructed to meet state-of-good-repair guidelines, Four new stations and a layover facility for storing trains overnight. The South Cost Rail project has developed a noise mitigation program for eligible property owners who will be contacted by the project in spring or summer 2022. Phase 1 broke ground in July 2019 and construction is expected to be completed in late 2023. Improves freight service to the region and will provide redundancy for commuter rail riders once the Full Build is operating. The Full Build Project will travel on the Stoughton Main Line and Northeast Corridor (north of Canton Junction). [24][25] The corridor plan called for substantial mixed-use transit-oriented development around stations. A traction power system comprised of a main substation at Easton and New Bedford, a switching station at Canton and Berkley and six new paralleling stations at Freetown, Easton, Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River will be developed to support the electric trains on the line. The Commuter Rail trains will run multiple trips every day beginning in late 2023, which creates additional noise. For more details, see the Phase 1 and Full Build corridor maps. [12] The Old Colony mainline was rebuilt with restricted single-track sections through parts of Dorchester and Quincy, limiting the capacity required for reaching the South Coast via Middleborough - such that service could be operated to one of Fall River and New Bedford, but not both. And imagine that hallway is nine miles long.. Existing Stoughton Line is the solid thick line; South Coast Rail is thick and dashed. [26] The agreement was signed on September 23, 2009. [45] A $18.4 million project was issued on October 22, 2014 and reconstructed six grade crossings in Taunton, Freetown, and New Bedford. This line will be answered Monday-Friday, between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM (except holidays). "[23] However, the state continued to publish studies, releasing the South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan in June 2009 and the Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis Report (which indicated electric or diesel service through Stoughton as the best choice) in September 2009. Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines. MBTA's Phase 1 work of South Coast Rail is moving along. The station will have a single side platform located inside the wye between the Middleborough Main Line and the . The South Coast Rail team plans to continue to hold public meetings across the Phase 1 project communities. [52] A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 2, 2019. The project team will work with the cities and towns to maintain vehicle and pedestrian access through roadway work zones to the extent possible and to limit impacts on access to local businesses. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. In a communication to the City Council, Mayor Jon Mitchell stated, "At this time the City is not an MBTA district city relative to the construction of South Coast Rail. Our crews completed early action work in preparation for Phase 1 construction. As of the March 2020 COVID-19 state of emergency, all briefings and meetings are being held through remote platforms such as conference calls and on-line meetings. First, a finance plan was completed and fully funded in the . At the same time, MBTA will proceed with the conceptual design of the Stoughton Straight Electric Alternative (Full Build Project), which was already reviewed under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Learn more about the South Coast Rail project Construction Progress Update Johnson said the detour will also limit the number of trains that can travel to the South Coast each day because it sends them through the tightest choke point in the MBTAs commuter rail system: a stretch of single track beginning in Braintree where regional trains run alongside Bostons subway. Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford are the only major cities within 50 miles of Boston that do not currently have commuter rail access to Boston. Service will include threemorning and threeevening peak trains. USA. In June 2005, the Chief of Commonwealth Development stated that the cost could be as high as $1 billion. [55], On May 11, 2020, a $159 million contract (#7) was awarded to Skanska DW White JV for the Fall River Secondary portion of phase 1. The Rail Lines of Southern New England. Phase 1 Project Extends Commuter Rail service on the Middleborough/Lakeville Line to New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton. The MBTA estimates South Coast Rail will be an $8 billion project requiring five years of capital investment. [22] A federal Notice of Intent and state Environmental Notification Form were filed in November 2008. Commuters from the South Coast are free to weigh in at a series of virtual public meetings on March 31, April 6 and April 12. The new vehicles will be ready for commissioning and service in 2023. May 11, 2020. Much of the criticism aimed at South Coast Rail is focused on the path the train is taking to Boston. South Coast Rail will be built in phases. Once complete in 2024, one line of the South Coast rail will link New Bedford to Boston, and a second line will connect Fall River . Your feedback will not receive a response. [52][53][55] Contract #3 includes replacement of four railroad bridges and one culvert, plus 2.5 miles (4.0km) of track replacement. Phase 1 construction is underway and will restore service to the region by the end of 2023. [37] The total cost of Phase 1 is $1.047 billion and will be paid entirely by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through bonds under the Rail Enhancement Program. [10] In March 1991, newly elected governor William Weld asked the state legislature to authorize the sale of bonds to finance further studies. The Early Action took place in Berkley, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Middleborough, New Bedford, Raynham, and Taunton. MassDOT and the MBTA work regularly withOperation Lifesaver, a national program sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), that provides community railroad safety education programs. The study was criticized for not considering other alternatives, including express buses. Construction works began with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack and MBTA general manager Steve Poftak and other officials. [40] In March 2017, the state announced a revised plan intended to provide service sooner for a total cost of $3.42 billion. For commuters like Batchilder who rely on a patchwork of public and private options to get from the South Coast to Boston, the latest expansion of the MBTAs commuter rail will be a welcome improvement. South Coast Rail, January 23 2020, Taunton Ballast Compaction by MassDOT South Coast Rail, January 23 2020, Fall River Track Restoration by MassDOT South Coast Rail, January 23 2020, Taunton Precast Installation by MassDOT [63] Four stations will be constructed along this alignment: North Easton, Easton Village, Raynham Place, and Taunton along with reconstruction of Canton Center and Stoughton Stations. [65] In 2014, Raynham officials expressed interest in lowering tracks under Route 138 to prevent traffic impacts. [27] On June 11, 2010, the state and CSX completed the first phase of the agreement, including the transfer of the South Coast Rail lines to MassDOT. [28], The Army Corps of Engineers released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in March 2011. This story was originally published by The Public's Radio. [47][48] On November 25, 2014, a $42 million contract was awarded for the replacement of three bridges (President Avenue, Brownell Avenue, and Golf Club Road) in Fall River plus the Wamsutta Street bridge in New Bedford. Phase 1 service will provide a one-seat ride by extending the existing Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail service from Boston to Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford. As early as next year, the MBTA plans to finish a long-awaited restoration of train service to the cities of New Bedford, Taunton and Fall River. The Middleborough Secondary connects to Cotley Junction in East Taunton. Public Meeting | Fall River South Coast Rail, Public Meeting | New Bedford South Coast Rail, Fall River South Coast Rail Virtual Meeting, Middleborough South Coast Rail Virtual Meeting. You can also sign up for project-related email updates. Phase 1 will bring service to these communities by late 2023. Gulf Cooperation Council Destination Tourism Insight Report including International Arrivals, Domestic Trips, Key Source / Top M&A Deals Thematic Bundle Report Bundle (9 Reports), Trends in Tourism Report Bundle (5 Reports). The commuter rail project is being undertaken to restore passenger services from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston. See a map of the Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford lines. On a roll: South Coast Rail's Fall River station is 90% complete here's when trains hit the tracks Hunt said Fall River's calculated MBTA assessment would be about $600,000, but the city. The line has been planned to restore passenger rail service between Boston and the cities of Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford, via the towns of Berkley, and Freetown, on the south coast of Massachusetts. The team will continue to work with the cities and towns to share the information and maintain open lines of communication. Based on an April 1999 analysis of South Station operations, the July 1999 Draft Environmental Impact Report concluded that the Stoughton route was the only viable route, with projected service of 20 trains per day to each of Fall River and New Bedford for an estimated total of 4,325 daily riders. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is currently extending the Fitchburg commuter rail line, a 50-mile corridor from Boston to Leominster, US. The South Coast commuter line will run on 15.5 miles (25km) of existing NEC track infrastructure from Boston to Canton Junction. [46] The Dean Street (US-44) crossing in Taunton was replaced in August 2015 with work projected to last until late 2016. "We are proud to advance South Coast Rail further than it's ever been as part of our administration's $8 billion MBTA infrastructure investment plan over the next five . Status: Phase 1 construction is in progress along the Fall River Secondary Line, Middleborough Secondary Line, and New Bedford Main Line, See the South Coast Rail construction activity update. Of all the cities in Massachusetts within 60 miles of Boston, Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton are the last to see train service restored. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the entire Old Colony system beginning in 1893, and ran commuter and intercity service to Fall River and New Bedford. Phase 1 provides interim service to Fall River and New Bedford while the northern section of the line is built in Phase 2. This work also included the construction of 5 wetland mitigation areas in the corridor and was substantially completed in Summer 2020. The project team meets regularly with the cities and towns to identify opportune times for the project team to present key information and updates to the public and neighborhood groups. [11][3], Due to ballooning costs, Governor Romney's administration suspended the Growth Task Force and stopped project planning in November 2002; the environmental approval process was stopped in May 2003. Bob Campbell, Director of Design Administration for South Coast Rail, said at the meeting that construction on both the Fall River and New Bedford Lines will begin before the end of 2020. The project will involve the construction of ten new stations connecting the towns of Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River to Boston. The Full Build presents more challenges related to wetland impacts, complex engineering, electrification and cost. By statute, any city or . That was the word from South Coast . If you know of a neighborhood group that would benefit from an update from the team, please send us an email at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us. Some riders are eligible for reduced fares. "South Coast Rail Phase 1 will connect Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and the surrounding areas to Boston, giving people more options to get to and from southeastern Massachusetts," said Governor Charlie Baker. Download related documents and meeting materials. It will extend the MBTAs existing Stoughton commuter line from Stoughton to New Bedford and Fall River on an electrified line. [6][39] However, that plan would decrease service to Middleborough/Lakeville. If youre an abutter of the ROW, please ensure all personal property is removed from the area. But as South Coast Rail gets ready to open at the end of 2023, some hard truths about what train service will look like are becoming clearer. Riders will be able to take a one-seat tripno transfers neededfor the first time since the late 1950s. [22], On November 13, 2013, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation approved a $12 billion spending authorization that includes $2.2 billion for South Coast Rail. Skeptics of the project say these barriers to fast, frequent service will reduce opportunities for new tourism and development in New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton cities that have struggled financially since the decline of manufacturing there. As part of Phase 1, the design team will begin conceptual design work and preliminary engineering for permitting.