Proposed South Coast Rail plans chug ahead

As plans to construct a commuter rail link to Boston continue to steam ahead, two locations in Fall River and in Freetown are moving into the environmental review process.

Will Richmond

As plans to construct a commuter rail link to Boston continue to steam ahead, two locations in Fall River and in Freetown are moving into the environmental review process.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation announced 18 proposed station locations for the South Coast Rail project will be included in the state and federal environmental review process.

The two Fall River locations have not changed since earlier station analyses were completed. Those spots include a planned station adjacent to the Gates of the City that would serve as a part-time station with bus connections, but no parking. The station would serve the downtown and waterfront tourist areas. The other station would be located at the spot of the former commuter rail station on Davol Street, near the intersection of Pearce and Davol streets.

Plans are already being developed to transform the site in a multi-modal transportation center.
While a commuter rail line would likely result in both Fall River stations coming online, a decision on how southeastern Massachusetts will connect to Boston will help determine the location of a Freetown stop.

For the environmental review process, state and federal officials will review two potential sites in town: one tied to a potential rail station and one that would service an express bus link.

The bus-only location announced Monday would be constructed in the interchange for the proposed Exit 8½ off of Route 24. The EOT says the station would serve industrial parks and commuters throughout the region. A rail station would be located at the U-Store site on Route 79 in the village of Assonet. This location would also serve nearby industrial parks and would be geared toward regional commuters.

In paring down the list of potential stations, the EOT used a set of guiding principles that included capturing strong ridership, catalyzing redevelopment and minimizing environmental impacts.

The proposed locations “will serve different purposes and needs in the South Coast region,” said EOT Secretary Bernard Cohen, “some should help to catalyze village-style development, while other stations will be job centers and still others will mainly serve commuters with regional parking.”

He added that many stations are candidates for redevelopment projects, clustering jobs and housing nearby, serving people who will walk, bike, carpool and drive to stations.

According to the EOT, the draft state Environmental Notification Form and federal Notice of Intent will be filed in mid-November, followed by joint public meetings. The EOT will also conduct a series of workshops in communities with proposed stations between November 2008 and February 2009. Community leaders and people from neighborhoods close to the proposed stations will be invited to contribute ideas for the stations.

Along with the four proposed stations locally, three stations are being reviewed in New Bedford, six in Taunton, and five others in the towns of Easton, Raynham, Middleboro and Norton.

The announcement of the proposed station locations came as part of the release of the Station Siting Report by the EOT on Monday.