Today’s Headlines
• Palmer Station Project Moves Forward
• MassDOT Names Andy Koziol as Director of West-East Rail
• Greenfield Reduces Parking Rates at Olive Street Garage
• Vermonter Extension to Montreal Update
• Williams College Students Advocate for Northern Tier Rail
• Ground Breaking in March for New Station in Brattleboro
• Commuter Rail in Greenfield?
Calendar
Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Meetings
Working Group Meeting #4
Thu. March 21, 2024 | 1 pm – 2:30 pm
To register for this virtual meeting use this link —
Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Working Group Meeting #4
Public Information Meeting #3
Thu. March 28, 2024 | 6 pm – 7:30 pm
To register for this virtual meeting use this link —
Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Public Information Meeting #3
At these meetings, the study team will share an overview of the study’s background, review the study alternatives, outline issues and opportunities to consider, present draft recommended next steps and draft implementation plan, and garner feedback.
Rescuing Richardson’s Station—Holyoke’s 1885 Train Depot
Tues. March 26th | 5:30 pm @ Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St
Local historian Will Melton tells the story of the station’s history, including Dave White’s recent renovation, and hopes for its future.
Vermont Rail Advisory Council
May 14, 2024 | 1 pm – 3 pm
NEW – May 28, 2024 | Applications due date for FY23–24 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant funding. Available funding in this round is $2.48 billion.
Palmer Station Project Moves Forward
MassDOT announced in late January that it is moving forward with planning and design work for a new train station in the town of Palmer.
With this announcement MassDOT said that it had hired a consultant to undertake planning and conceptual design work, including, “public outreach, site selection, identification of amenities and access, conceptual design and environmental scoping.”
Two recent studies recommended Palmer as a location for a future intercity passenger rail service but neither study specified a location for the station.
The first study, the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative (NNEIRI study) which was finalized in 2016, evaluated five potential sites for a future station —
The NNEIRI Study used three basic criteria, to identify potential station sites:
- Maximum horizontal curvature [of the track] of 1.5° for 2000′
- Minimal impact on environmental resources, and
- Proximity to Palmer and regional access
The analysis (in the 2016 study) concluded that the Historic Station Location, Location B, and Location C were determined to be the most favorable sites for a future station. Locations A and D were deemed not suitable since they were “sufficiently environmentally damaging and provided poor transportation accessibility.”
The current effort to identify a site the new station will surely require a close look at additional criteria, including the likely need for a dedicated station track to allow passengers trains to pull off the CSX main line when stopping at the station platform.
Additionally any new station will need to be fully compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and include a full length high-level- boarding platform.
Clearly there’s work to do here, but all in all this announcement is very positive news for Palmer, the greater region, and the East-West Rail project as a whole.
Further reading
“MassDOT Grants Palmer Its Wish; Planning for New Rail Station Has Begun…”
Western Mass Politics and Insight | January 19, 2024
MassDOT Names Andy Koziol as Director of West-East Rail
Governor Maura Healey and Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt announced on February 6th that they will be appointing Andy Koziol as Director of West-East Rail.
MassDOT in a press release said that as the West-East Rail Director within MassDOT’s Rail & Transit Division, Koziol will ensure comprehensive oversight and coordination of ongoing and future projects in support of West-East Rail and the MassDOT’s Compass Rail program with MassDOT staff and consultant support.
Koziol will also be responsible for implementing federal grants, such as the US DOT CRISI awards received for the Inland Route and Springfield Union Station area improvements and lead the pursuit of additional federal funds to advance the effort to expand passenger rail service.
West-East Rail (which is more commonly known as East-West Rail) is an integral component of MassDOT’s Compass Rail program, the state’s overall vision for intercity passenger rail services. Compass Rail includes existing north-south services along the Knowledge Corridor in western Massachusetts as well as proposed east-west services between Boston and Albany, New York.
Koziol joined MassDOT’s Rail & Transit Division as Director of Rail & Transit in June 2023. MassDOT said the he has over 15 years of transportation planning experience centered on implementing safe, equitable multimodal transportation, with a primary concentration on commuter rail and intercity rail planning.
Before joining MassDOT, Koziol worked for 12 years at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, where he collaborated closely with the MBTA and Amtrak on rail service and capital planning. His experiences there included managing the planning and design of passenger rail stations, short- and long-range service planning on the Northeast Corridor, and success with obtaining federal grants for rail initiatives.
Previously, Koziol spent three years working as a transportation analyst with the Cape Cod Commission.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Koziol holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Rutgers University.
This announcement is in our view a significant milestone. The appointment of a dedicated director for this project is a pivotal step forward in our collective journey towards realizing East-West Rail in Massachusetts.
We express our gratitude to Governor Healey for her administration’s unwavering commitment and focused efforts to improve and expand passenger rail services for western Massachusetts.
Further reading
“New head of west-east rail has ‘big plans’ for expanding passenger rail in Massachusetts”
By Carrie Healy | New England Public Media | February 9, 2024
A radio interview with the new Director of West-East Rail
“The Trans-Commonwealth RR: “West-East” Rail Has a Director to Call Its Own…”
Western Mass Politics and Insight | February 8, 2024
Greenfield Reduces Parking Rates at Olive Street Garage
We’re thrilled to report that the city of Greenfield has significantly reduced the cost to park in the Olive Street Parking Garage .
This is important news for anyone who uses this garage — in particular those who wish to park for extended periods of time and take the train.
The cost to park has been reduced from $1.00/hour to $0.40 per hour (8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) and parking is free all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
But that’s not all — parking on the fourth floor (the roof) of the garage will now be free at all times during the spring, summer, and fall seasons (April 1st to November 30th).
As a result of these changes the maximum cost to park a vehicle in the garage is now just $3.60/day — and if you park on the fourth floor you can park for free, except during the winter months.
The City of Greenfield’s 2023 Downtown Parking Study found that the Olive Street Parking Garage was underutilized — with the garage never reaching more than 50% capacity during the study period. The study recommended reducing the cost to park in the garage as well as aligning paid parking hours with the rest of Greenfield’s downtown parking supply.
It’s important to mention that payment for parking in this garage must be made using the Passport Parking App on a smartphone, except for those parking on the fourth floor.
The Olive Street Parking Garage is conveniently situated across the street from the Greenfield train station platform and the Olver Transit Center.
Further reading
A Guide for Olive Street Parking Garage
Trains In The Valley
“Greenfield Reduces Parking Cost for Olive Street Garage”
Press Release | City of Greenfield | November 3, 2023
Vermonter Extension to Montreal Update
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) recently met with the Vermont House Committee on Transportation to review ongoing efforts to extend the Vermonter to Montreal Central Station.
During the meeting VTrans provided an overview of recent developments, including the selection of track 23 as the likely location for the proposed preclearance facility in Montreal Central Station.
VTrans reported that the next milestone is the expected completion in March 2024 of a detailed feasibility study for the project.
Once the feasibility report is released we should have some idea how long it will be before the Vermonter is extended to Montreal.
A recording of the meeting can be found in this YouTube link,
VT House Committee on Transportation Meeting
January 31, 2024
Further reading
Vermonter Extension to Montreal
Trains In The Valley
Williams College Students Advocate for Northern Tier Rail
Center for Learning in Action | Williams College
Students at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. are working to raise awareness and support for the need for the restoration of passenger rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston.
Elain He ’26 and Christopher Rodriguez ’26 spent this past summer working for the Center for Learning in Action to advocate for the initiative. Their work included the creation of an advocacy website with the title, Northern Tier Rail Expansion Project.
The website includes sections highlighting the history of the passenger rail along the corridor, the impact that the restoration of service could have, and a collection of letters of support from across the region.
For example, this letter of support from Williams College President Maud Mandel,
“I believe Northern Tier rail would have a significant, positive impact for the people of Williams and our communities throughout the region.
A rail route connecting the north Berkshires to Boston would expand our HR recruitment reach, create flexible living and working opportunities for employees and their families, provide access to further academic and career opportunities for our students, and encourage more Massachusetts residents and visitors to take advantage of the many cultural and business opportunities on this side of the state.
In my opinion, few other programs at the state level would have as great or as beneficial an effect.”
We look forward to following the progress of this student-led initiative to advocate for the return of passenger rail service on the Northern Tier Route.
Further reading
Northern Tier Rail Expansion Project
Center for Learning in Action | Williams College
“Students, faculty continue advocating for Northern Tier Rail Expansion”
By Ellie Davis | The Williams Record | December 6, 2023
Ground Breaking in March for New Station in Brattleboro
Amtrak is expected to start construction in March of a new train station in Brattleboro Vermont.
The new station, which will be located on the east side of the railroad tracks, will include a 36-seat enclosed waiting area, a restroom, and a 345-foot high level boarding platform.
Enfield Enterprises, whose corporate offices are in Springfield Massachusetts, has been contracted by Amtrak to execute the construction work for the project.
Preliminary work for the project, which included major track work in Brattleboro and construction of a new surface parking lot for the new station, was completed in 2022.
Amtrak’s current station stop in Brattleboro, on the west side of the tracks, is shown in the image below.
The station stop includes a low-level boarding area and a small waiting room (which is behind the white door in the image below.)
(Flickr image used under a Creative Commons license)
The current waiting room is in the basement of the city-owned building that today houses the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center — a structure that was Brattleboro Union Station from 1915 until the early 1970s.
The new station in Brattleboro is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025.
Further reading
“Ground to break for Brattleboro Amtrak station”
By Virginia Ray | The Commons | January 10, 2024
Commuter Rail in Greenfield?
Most people who live in the area know that there are wayfinding signs along Interstate 91 that direct people to the rail stations in Greenfield, Holyoke and Northampton.
But the sign above, which was recently updated with new wording, suggests something new — that commuter rail service is now available in Greenfield.
We’re sorry to report, but commuter rail service is not currently available in Greenfield.
As background, this is how the sign looked back in August 2022 —
We don’t know why someone in MassDOT’s Highway division decided to change this sign but we expect that this relatively minor mistake will be corrected before to long.
Post last updated: March 31, 2024