Three local rail advocacy groups — Trains In The Valley, Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop and The Train Campaign — are rolling out plans in the coming two weeks for pop-up rail advocacy meetings at locations across western Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) hosted two public information meetings — in Worcester (January 29th) and Springfield (February 2nd) — to present the 2018 State Rail Plan and begin the public feedback process.

The plan for the pop-up rail advocacy meetings was quickly pulled together by local advocacy groups earlier this month in an effort to increase public awareness of the now-in-draft 2018 Massachusetts State Rail Plan.

Please plan to drop in at one of the many informal pop-up meetings listed below to learn more about the draft 2018 State Rail Plan.

Get your questions answered in person by local rail advocates and learn how to make your opinions count by submitting comments to MassDOT.

Don’t have time to attend a meeting?

If you are interested in the long-term plan for passenger rail service in the Commonwealth — and in the Pioneer Valley in particular — we encourage you to review this summary of the plan on this link: 2018 Massachusetts State Rail Plan Update (prepared by Trains In The Valley).

Then submit your written comments via email to Planning@dot.state.ma.us

Alternatively, they can be (snail) mailed to this address:

Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Attn Jennifer Slesinger – State Rail Plan
10 Park Plaza – Suite 4150
Boston, MA 02116

These next two weeks will be the only opportunity to comment on the State Rail Plan until MassDOT’s next update five years from now, in 2023.

NOTE that the deadline for MassDOT to receive your comments on the draft State Rail Plan is March 2, 2018.

 

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Past Meetings

AGAWAM | Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St
Mon. February 26, 2018 | 11 AM – 1 PM

AMHERST | Jones Library, 43 Amity St
Thurs. February 8th | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

EAST LONGMEADOW | Public Library, 60 Center Sq
Mon. February 12th | 6.30 PM – 7:30 PM

GREENFIELD | Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St
Thur. February 15th | 11 AM – 1 PM

GREAT BARRINGTON | Mason Public Library, 231 Main St
Thur. February 15th | 4 PM – 5:30 PM

GREAT BARRINGTON | Castle Street Cafe, 10 Castle Street
Mon. February 26th | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

HOLYOKE | Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St
Tues. February 27th | 11:00 AM – 1 PM

LEE | Lee Library, 100 Main St
Tues. February 13th | 6 PM- 7:30 PM

MONSON | Monson Free Library, 2 High St
Sat. February 10th | 11 AM – 1 PM

NORTH ADAMS | North Adams Public Library, 74 Church St
Wed. February 21th | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

NORTHAMPTON | Forbes Library, 20 West St
Fri. February 9th | 11:30 AM – 1 PM

PALMER | Palmer Public Library, 1455 North Main St
Sat. February 24th | 10 AM – 2 PM

PITTSFIELD | Pittsfield Public Library, 1 Wendell Ave
Wed. February 28th | 5:30 PM – 7 PM

SHEFFIELD | Sheffield Library, 48 Main St
Fri. February 16th | 4 PM – 5:30 PM

SPRINGFIELD | Sixteen Acres Branch Library, 1187 Parker St
Fri. February 16th | 3 PM – 5 PM

WEST SPRINGFIELD | West Springfield Public Library
Wed. February 21st | 11 AM – 12:30 PM

WEST STOCKBRIDGE | West Stockbridge Library, 21 State Line Rd
Wed. February 28th | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

WARE | Young Men’s Library Association, 37 Main St
Wed. February 28th | 4:30-6:30

WHATELY | Whately Public Library, 202 Chestnut Plain Rd
Sat. February 17th, 1 PM – 2:30 PM

WILLIAMSTOWN | Williamstown Public Library, 1095 Main St
Wed. February 21st | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

 

Please note that we are no longer accepting requests for additional pop-up meetings at this time.

 

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Further reading

 

 

Print-and-Mail Comment Form for the 2018 State Rail Plan
Prepared by Trains in the Valley

 

 

Post last updated: March 1, 2018