Amtrak passenger rail tour includes stops in New Haven, Hartford

Springfield area business and civic officials board an Amtrak train to Springfield after their visit to Hartford's Union Station during day-long learning tour of rail terminals as the Springfield Union Station renovation project is under way. December 8, 2014. (Michael S. Gordon / The Republican)

(Michael S. Gordon)

A coalition of lawmakers from Western Massachusetts is pushing for a study of the feasibility of expanded Boston to Springfield high-speed rail.

A bill sponsored by newly elected state Sen. Eric Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat, would require the Department of Transportation to submit a report by Aug. 1, 2015, that includes "an examination and evaluation of the costs and economic, social and cultural benefits" to the Greater Springfield region and the state, according to a bill summary.

Lesser said Western Massachusetts has not experienced the same economic growth as the rest of the state over the last several years. A rail link, he said, could be a catalyst for growth. "We look at what are the big things we need to do to keep ourselves competitive, and one of most essential is we need to better integrate ourselves in the growing economies we have all around us, to our east, our south and our north," Lesser said. "If greater Springfield was better linked to those centers of economic opportunity, it will bring more benefits to us, allow us to bring and grow more jobs here and to raise property values."

Lesser has secured support from 16 senators and representatives from Western Massachusetts, of both political parties, and from state Sen. Thomas McGee, a Lynn Democrat who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee.

McGee said he thinks the study is part of a larger conversation the state needs to have about its transportation plan for the next five or 10 years. "We need to, as a commonwealth, talk about what do we see as our future, what investments we feel we should make to make sure our economy grows, and transportation is a part of that discussion," McGee said. McGee said he thinks it is important to talk with regional leaders and explore the impacts of the east-west rail line on Western Massachusetts and statewide.

Today, there is a single daily passenger train, Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, running between Boston and Springfield on its way to Chicago. The train ride takes 135 minutes – which in many cases is longer than a bus takes running along the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Train service is limited by the condition of the tracks and by the decision of CSX, the rail company that owns the tracks, to prioritize freight service so passenger trains have to wait for freight trains to pass. Timothy Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, called the existing rail line "antiquated," and said it is a circuitous track that would need a lot of work for a train to safely travel faster.

There used to be more rail service. In 1960, there were five trains a day between Boston and Springfield. Trains have come and gone over the years.

There have already been upgrades along part of the route. The state purchased tracks between Worcester and Boston in 2010, and track upgrades are expected to be finished by the summer. There is now regular MBTA service along that route.

The state's current capital plan, released under former Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, in 2013, envisions spending $362 million on expanded passenger rail between Boston and Springfield along the so-called "inland route." (The plan is the state's transportation vision but is only meaningful once it is funded.)

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, has not yet taken a position on the rail line. He told The Republican/MassLive.com during his campaign that "it is worthwhile to explore the possibility of expanded passenger rail through a public-private partnership."

Brennan said he anticipates the final cost could be two or three times the amount included in the capital plan, due to the condition of the track. "This is going to be an expensive proposition," Brennan said.

Brennan said he thinks a study is necessary to measure the costs and benefits. While the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission until now was focused on getting a north-south rail line up and running, "We never wanted to lose sight of the fact that a connection to Boston would also be extraordinarily advantageous," Brennan said.

"Sen. Lesser is responding to the same things we heard, that there's keen interest about that opportunity and how it could open up economic development and job opportunities for the western portion of the commonwealth," Brennan said.

According to a Massachusetts Department of Transportation presentation, the 98-mile inland route could include stops in Boston, Framingham, Worcester, Palmer and Springfield. State transportation officials have said travel times could range from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours and 18 minutes depending on the speed of the train and how many stops it makes. The route could also connect to an Amtrak route running to New York.

Currently, transportation departments in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont are conducting a study of the opportunities and impacts of more frequent and higher speed rail on the inland route and on a Boston to Montreal route. That group is looking at a variety of alternatives regarding how to implement rail – things like whether to upgrade train cars or buy new ones, whether to upgrade tracks and to accommodate what speeds, frequency of service, and whether to run express or local trains.

Lesser said his study would complement that broader study by focusing exclusively on the Springfield to Boston spur.

Lesser said the upcoming building in Springfield of an MGM casino resort and of a factory to build train cars, as well as the opening of a University of Massachusetts satellite center in the city, all make it more important for there to be a strong rail system.

Springfield is currently renovating Union Station.

Amtrak also recently started running one train daily along the "Knowledge Corridor" from Greenfield to Springfield. There has been talk among transportation advocates about trying to add more service to make taking that train feasible for commuters.

Additionally, Boston has been selected as the United States' bid city for the 2024 Olympics. Rail advocates in New Hampshire are already talking about an Olympic bid spurring movement on passenger rail between Boston and Concord, according to the Concord Monitor. Western Massachusetts advocates say the Olympic bid makes a Springfield to Boston rail line more urgent as well.

"It's something I think many people have talked about for awhile, and now is the time," said state Sen. James Welch, a West Springfield Democrat.

With the expansion of an east-west rail link, Lesser said, "You really have an opportunity to reestablish Springfield as the crossroads of New England."

Josh Ostroff, outreach director of Transportation for Massachusetts, a transportation advocacy group, said he wants to make sure the two Department of Transportation studies are not duplicative. But, Ostroff said, "In broad terms, we're very enthusiastic about any legislative initiative to study and fund improved rail transportation. Whether it terminates in Springfield or Pittsfield, we want to make it easier for people to move around the state."