MassDOT failed:
to communicate with Middleboro and Lakeville
to consider Lakeville's 40R development
to collect accurate numbers
to resolve current existing traffic congestion, some of which MassDOT created, specifically Route 105
to consider future development
and numerous other issues
KEOLIS provides poor service, peak hour trains are over-crowded.
Governor Charlie Baker has failed to resolve ANY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Problems.
Residents, officials raise concerns about Middleboro train station
Posted Nov 20, 2017
MIDDLEBORO — Selectmen and residents from Middleboro and Lakeville pressed transportation officials for answers Monday about the proposed South Coast Rail station in Middleboro, saying the state has not done a traffic study and has failed to communicate adequately with the town.
“Nobody had the courtesy to tell Middleboro that we were being picked,” said Allin Frawley, chairman of the Middleboro Board of Selectmen.
The project aims to bring commuter rail service to Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton. Staff and consultants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation gave an update on the project at the board’s invitation.
Robert Nunes, the town manager, said he and Frawley met with DOT to talk about alternatives, and then learned of the state’s decision in a newsletter a week later.
Selectwoman Diane Stewart expressed frustration about the state prioritizing South Coast Rail over unresolved traffic congestion at the Route 44 rotary. She said a rotary flyover would affect 47,000 cars each day, far more than the train station, for far less money than has already been spent planning the Stoughton commuter line.
“I have a problem with that,” she said.
Jean Fox, project manager for South Coast Rail, said DOT has looked at preliminary engineering with regard to traffic and is awaiting a full study.
NO STUDY CURRENTLY EXISTS! PLANNING WAS DONE WITHOUT FACTS.
“It’s certainly at the forefront of everything we’re looking at,” Fox said.
With regard to the rotary, Fox said prior to the meeting that upcoming work to convert the rotary into a roundabout, with additional lane striping and traffic controls, will help with traffic.
The Middleboro station would bring big changes to both Middleboro and Lakeville because it would remove the existing Middleboro/Lakeville station from the daily commuter line to Boston.
Southbound trains would stop at the new station and then head west toward Taunton, rather than continuing south to the Middleboro/Lakeville station.
Previously, the state planned to route South Coast Rail through Stoughton. DOT says the new plan would bring service faster and cheaper. Service through Middleboro is estimated to cost $1.1 billion, including some of the work necessary for Stoughton service. The Stoughton route, with costlier electric trains, is estimated at $3.3 billion.
Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration publicly floated the idea of “starter service” via Middleboro more than a year ago. Then, in March, DOT filed notice that it was pursuing service through Middleboro as Phase 1, while still supporting electric service via Stoughton in the long term.
DOT announced in September that it was backing a new station in Middleboro at Pilgrim Junction. Building a new station avoids detouring the train half a mile to the existing station or forcing Lakeville passengers to transfer in Bridgewater.
On Monday, Fox said DOT is advancing the Pilgrim Junction design and beginning environmental permitting.
Middleboro resident Tracie Craig-McGee called on selectmen and state legislators to stand up to the governor and go to DOT with a message to stop the Middleboro station.
“This town is overrun with traffic as it is. We can’t take any more,” she said. “Live our lives, drive on our roads, and you’ll find out.”
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