Franklin County, MA Transit Center -- Future Commuter Rail Stop -- Launched

So many wins from this project

Breaking ground on this transit center is exciting for many reasons. It will stimulate economic activity, it's a green multimodal center that will drastically minimize energy use and can actually generate energy, AND, it's another building block in both the restoration of passenger rail service from Springfield to Vermont and establishing commuter rail service from Vermont through Springfield all the way to New Haven, CT.

More signs from Gov. Patrick and Secy. Aloisi that they get how important investment in public transit -- in WESTERN MASS -- really is.

Turbo Boost for New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail project?

This could be awesome news for the prospects of commuter rail from Springfield to New Haven and more convenient access to NYC. Dodd and other legislators will need us to help make some noise to help win funding.

Stay tuned!

Business on board with rail expansion. In Minnesota. What about Massachusetts?

"[Minnesota businesses] see investing in transit infrastructure as a winner."

Rallying business support for passenger and commuter rail improvements in Western Mass is an easy sell. Businesses and organizations need a reliable, efficient transportation system as much or more than individuals do -- to conduct business, ensure that their employees can easily reach them, and to tap into the widest and deepest talent pool to attract new employees.

This is an area where the Pioneer Valley Advocates could use help. We have heard positive things from the business and community leaders we have spoken to. We need a more sustained and systematic approach to enlisting the support of the region's biggest employers -- like Univ. of Massachusetts, Bay State Health, Mass Mutual, Big Y, and others -- and the thousands of small businesses that produce so many jobs.

Your ideas and help are welcome!

Dodd: We need better transit to get our economy moving and address the challenges ahead

From the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over the transit portion of the transportation bill, a good indication that public transit will be a higher priority in the next bill.

Carrots and Sticks for Cleaner Transportation -- Petition from Transportation for America

Check it out and sign on if you agree!

Excerpt:
"Right now, one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from transportation! If we are going to successfully combat climate change, the clean energy bill must offer meaningful incentives for states and local governments to clean up transportation systems. We must support local initiatives to provide transportation alternatives and set state-wide goals and transportation pollution reduction goals that are in line with our national goal to build a cleaner future.

Sign your name to our national petition today, and tell key decision-makers in Congress to strengthen the transportation section of the new climate bill!"

Latest PVACR eNewsletter: Rail Updates & Apr. 16 General Meeting

Pioneer Valley Rail Progress
This is the most recent e-newsletter from Pioneer Valley Advocates for Commuter Rail. To get PVACR email updates and action alerts one to three times a month, be sure to subscribe.

Rail Advocates See Hope In Federal Stimulus Money

WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports on the efforts of New England Regional Rail Coalition members, including PVACR, to lobby for federal stimulus money for regional rail projects, including the Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail line from Springfield to White River Junction, VT.

"A group of environmentalists, rail transportation advocates, planners and business people are lobbying to get federal stimulus money spent on passenger rail projects in New England. There is hope the federal money could be used to bring commuter rail to Western Massachusetts"

Full WAMC Northeast Public Radio report


NERRC and PVACR Press release announcing lobbying effort:

Working on the Railroad: NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL RAIL COALITION URGES FUNDING FOR RAIL

Gov. Patrick Discusses Commuter Rail in Western Mass at Town Forum

Q: "When and how soon, will the Pioneer Valley obtain commuter rail service? asked "Michael from East Longmeadow"

Gov. Patrick fielded a question about commuter rail from PVACR member and Treasurer, Michael Galvagni (thanks!) at a live town forum broadcast on WWLP Channel 22 last night. The Governor answered at some length about working with Connecticut and Vermont to provide commuter rail south and north from Springfield, but his bottom line is that we need federal help to get this done.

The question is asked at the 9 min, 20 sec point of this video segment, the third segment on the wwlp.com web site.

Palmer Seeks to Lure Amtrak

Palmer officials certainly appreciate the economic development and transportation benefits that rail brings. Anyone interested in learning about the projected benefits of the Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Line that the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) is studying and raising questions about it will have opportunities at two public meetings that are part of the study.

PVPC Public Meetings on the Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Study
Date: 05-19-2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: TD Banknorth, 1441 Main St., Suite 1200, Springfield, MA 01103.
Google map/directions. Parking is available in the lot behind the TD Banknorth building.

Date: 05-20-2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 1 Atwood Dr., Northampton, MA 01060.
From the Massachusetts Turnpike: Take exit 4. From I-91 North and South: Take exit 18, take a right at end of ramp. Hotel is 3 tenths of a mile on the right.

Public meeting notices will go out the first week of May. We urge all rail supporters to bring their questions and notepads to learn more about expanding rail services in our region.

New PVACR Web site

Hi all - We've revamped the PVACR Web site with plenty of content about proposed rail projects in the Pioneer Valley. Please check it out -- and be sure to sign up for PVACR email updates for the latest news and chances to speak up in support of commuter rail.

Thank you

Email Gov Patrick About Commuter Rail for Springfield Town Hall

Let's make sure Gov. Patrick thinks of commuter rail every time he thinks of Western Mass. Send your question about commuter rail (questions@wwlp.com) for the Gov. to be asked at a town forum to be held in Springfield Apr. 6, hosted and broadcast online and TV by WWLP-22.

Not every question will be asked, but we want to make sure WWLP has LOTS of commuter rail questions to choose from and is reminded of how popular the issue is.

One question we have submitted: "What role will commuter rail play in your plan for economic recovery in Massachusetts, and especially Western Mass?"