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MassDOT has released the first draft five-year MassDOT Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for FY2014-FY2018. The $12.4 billion program makes long-term investments that will create growth and opportunity for residents across the Commonwealth and represents the first unified, multi-modal capital investment plan covering all MassDOT highway and municipal projects, regional airports, rail, and transit, including the MBTA and Regional Transit Authorities.
“This five-year plan will invest in critical projects identified in The Way Forward and reflects the Governor’s priorities in mobility, equity, environmental stewardship and economic development,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey.
The five-year CIP includes funding for the following initiatives:
- $1.3 billion to complete the Green Line Extension, providing full service to Somerville and Medford by 2020.
- $835 million to begin the $1.3 billion replacement program of 43-year old Red line vehicles and 31-year old Orange Line vehicles, as well as improvements to tracks, signals and systems.
- $254 million for South Coast Rail, including early action improvements to rail ties, signal systems and bridges, as well as beginning preliminary engineering for the project.
- $252 million for implementation of diesel multiple unit service (DMU) on the Fairmount Line and expansion of the Silver Line to Chelsea.
- $3.3 billion for the rehabilitation and maintenance of bridges, including nearly $1.7 billion to complete historic Accelerated Bridge Program “mega” projects such as the Longfellow Bridge, Whittier Bridge in Amesbury and Braga Bridge in Fall River.
- $260 million to rehabilitate the I-91 Springfield Viaduct from the North End Bridge to the Memorial Bridge and review Viaduct options in downtown Springfield.
- $240 million for reconstruction of the I-93/95 Interchange in Canton, which facilitates private sector investment in the University Station development in the town of Westwood.
- $161 million for the realignment of the I-90 Turnpike in Allston.
- $160 million to complete the conversion to All Electronic Tolling on the I-90 Turnpike from New York to Boston and the harbor tunnels, including funds to begin ramp and road reconfiguration in FY2016.
- $192 million for advanced communications and traffic control technologies to reduce congestion and delays.
- $1.5 billion for municipal projects, including $200 million per year for Chapter 90 and $582 million in other municipal projects identified for the first time in a comprehensive project list.
- $250 million for a statewide portfolio of Aeronautics projects focused on maintenance and repair of runways, hangers and navigation systems.
- $34 million for the Housatonic Railroad, including the rehabilitation of tunnels, track and signals in advance of eventual rail line acquisition.
- $31 million to complete track and signal projects necessary to restore permanent, seasonal Cape Flyer passenger service to Cape Cod.
- $211 million for regional transit services, including $15 million for the purchase of senior citizen transportation vans for the local Councils on Aging and $196 million for the replacement of Regional Transit Authority buses and improvements to maintenance depots and intermodal facilities such as a new Pioneer Valley Transit Authority maintenance facility.
- $99.5 million for a comprehensive modernization effort of the RMV’s 20-year old Automated License and Registration Renewal System (ALARS) that includes the archiving of twenty years of data, removing old software and building a new, modern computer system.
- $43.0 million to advance the “Reimagining RMV” plan, in collaboration with the ALARS project, to significantly upgrade the quality of services provided by the department
MassDOT will host six public meetings across the Commonwealth to receive feedback on the draft CIP plan, which is expected to be delivered to the MassDOT Board of Directors for consideration in February.
The public meetings are scheduled as follows:
- Wednesday, January 29, 6:00-8:00pm, State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
- Wednesday, January 29, 6:00-8:00pm, Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worcester
- Monday, February 3, 6:00-8:00pm, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst
- Monday, February 3, 6:00-8:00pm, Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield
- Wednesday, February 5, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Law Building, Moot Court Room, North Dartmouth
- Monday, February 10, 6:00-8:00pm, Lynn, Lynn City Hall Council Chamber
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The line item project spending at the end of the document frequently doesn't line up and numbers are jumbled today. Can you post a separate excel file for this portion of the report? Thanks.
Of utmost importance is the addition of more tracks at South Station. Any increase in rail service to the South and West of Boston depends on track capacity at South Station.
I've been working as a surveyor in and arrond Boston, for the past few years. I have worked at the Airport ,Wonderland, Cannal St.and RT 1 Saugas. I always hear of Rt.1 and Rt.1a and Suffolk Downs and Wonderland Dog Track and Casino's and Everit.I often think of the congestion and should the State just take over, Emminent Domain
Just extend the big dig to Rt.1. Saugas, and claim the land at Wonderland and Suffolk and Everit. And deal derict with Casino's
Even with the best of a federal funding climate, the actual expansion of south station will not be completed for 20 years…to increase capacity much quicker this CIP should include the upgrading to the currently uses Grand Junction tracks through Cambridge to North Station for routing of some of the Worcester to Boston trains to North Station. South Station's tracks are now at capacity during rush hour and the Grand Junction upgrade is relatively cheap and quick and will free up track space for the increase Fairmont line trains when all the stations are completed and south coast rail before just before the track space at south station is needed.
Regarding the Grant Junction issue, MassDOT performed an analysis of providing commuter rail service over the Grand Junction in 2012. At the end of the analysis, MassDOT determined that it was no longer going to pursue commuter rail service over the Grand Junction from Worcester, but that the corridor should remain open to future analysis of other transportation uses. This decision was based on expected ridership, travel time, cost, and community input. The expansion of South Station is the Commonwealth’s primary approach for providing increased capacity for commuter rail.
The complete Grand Junction analysis can be found at: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/planning/Main/CurrentStudies/GrandJunctionTransportationStudy.aspx
Nowhere in this plan do I see money to proceed with the detangling of the 95/93 interchange in Woburn/Stoneham/Reading. I must be missing it because the Governor was clear that this was one of the projects that would get underway thanks to the new revenue out of the transportation bill. On what page can I find the funding for this project?
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Here is the Project Info online page and summary below. Current construction start estimate: 2019. http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/projectsRoot&sid=wrapper&iid=http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/
WOBURN- READING- STONEHAM-WAKEFIELD- INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS TO I-93/I-95
MassDOT has begun development of Interchange Improvements to I-93/I-95 in Woburn, Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield. The project area generally includes: Interstate 93 from Montvale Ave. (Exit 36) to Anderson RTC (exit 37C) and Interstate 95 between exits 36 and 41. More information is available at http://www.9395info.com/
Location: Town of Reading Town of Stoneham Town of Wakefield City of Woburn
Construction Begins: Spring 2019
Project Manager: Diane Madden Estimated Total Contract Cost: $266,088,970.80
Estimated Total Federal Participating Construction Cost: $276,708,768.20
Current Status: This project is in the preliminary design phase.
Any $$ for upgrading tracks and rail service between Worcester and Springfield?
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Plan, Page 45: Inland Route – funding will support the expansion of passenger rail
by connecting Boston to Springfield, via what is commonly known as the Inland Route. Funding will cover planning, permitting and rehabilitation of the route, including widening bridges, signal upgrades, purchasing passenger rail equipment and upgrading stations.