SPRINGFIELD — A proposed $1.2 billion expansion of passenger rail services through the Northeast would be an economic boost and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to transportation experts.
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, on Wednesday presented a federal study, Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative, which outlines a 20-year plan for three new services, including one which would pass through Northampton and Greenfield.
All would go through Springfield, making the $88.5 million renovations to the city’s Union Station even more important, since it will be central to area transit.
“The benefits are multifold,” said Timothy W. Brennan, director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. “It would boost economic development, increase affordability and access in the Pioneer Valley, allow people to commute in and out of the region and be great for climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
While Neal and Brennan described the study’s completion as an important first step, no federal, state or private money has yet been committed to the rail improvements and there is no timetable for their start.
The Boston-to-New Haven service would have eight daily departures with trains stopping at all existing stations along the inland route. It would operate throughout the day and one-way travel time would be three hours and 40 minutes.
The New Haven-to-Montreal service would have one daily round-trip and stop at all existing stations between New Haven, Springfield and Montreal. Schedules would be coordinated with Amtrak’s Vermonter schedule and one-way travel time would be eight hours and 40 minutes.
The Boston-to-Montreal service would share some track with the New Haven-to-Montreal service and have one daily round-trip with stops at all existing stations between Boston, Springfield and Montreal. Schedules would be coordinated with other intercity trains and one-way travel time would be be eight hours and 10 minutes.
“This study showed that improved rail from Boston to Springfield is eminently doable,” Neal said.
In Massachusetts alone, these expansions are estimated to serve a total of 323,000 riders annually. The expansions also would build off existing rail services Connecticut and Vermont.
Infrastructure costs in Massachusetts are estimated at between $273 million and $309 million. These costs would cover a second track and siding restoration between Worcester and Springfield and a variety of improvements to signals, bridges and station infrastructure.
Neal said he had meetings last fall with governors Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Dannel Malloy of Connecticut. According to Neal, both saw a need for increased services in the Northeast and are expected to provide financial support.
“Federal and state contributions are definitely going to be part of the answer here,” Neal said.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Vermont Agency for Transportation developed the study, which cost almost $700,000 and was funded by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Now that the study’s findings are available, Neal said he plans to share it with Baker and business leaders throughout the state before the end of the week so that the project can begin to move forward.