Presentation explaining the 2018 MassDOT Draft Rail Plan.

2. Vision and
Mission
Vision: Berkshire County and Northwest Hills of Connecticut have the
highest level of communications and infrastructure for inter- and intra-
regional connectivity - with the Housatonic Railroad Corridor serving
as the region’s indispensable backbone.
Mission: The Train Campaign is convinced that the region's economic
growth and prosperity and its future ability to sustain its natural
beauty and cultural treasures will depend in large measure on having a
rail connection to existing and planned high-performance rail
networks in New England. Consequently, The Campaign has a three-
fold mission:
• to facilitate the collection, compilation and analysis of relevant
demographic, economic and market data
• to inform, inspire and engage local residents and citizen groups to
take collective action to ‘bring back the trains’
• to persuade local and state policy makers and investors to commit
to a public-private partnership to develop the corridor

3. Click bit.ly/massdotfeb18 to write!

5. Rebooting the Berkshires

6. The Housatonic Passenger Rail Line Would Make the Connection
between The Berkshires and NorthWest Connecticut to the RBNE
Vision

7. The
Connectivity
Argument
The region has struggled
economically for 45 years, and is
increasingly reliant on
entrepreneurs and sole-
proprietors who are home-based
and can be located anywhere.
Having full, future proof
broadband available across the
region is critical to our economic
rebuilding and sustainability.
BRPC
The future of the region must be
directly tied to the vision proposing
to create a high-performance rail-
based economic development
strategy for the region and its mid-
sized cities. This strategy will
reconnect these places to the
thriving economies of metro New
York and Boston and link the entire
region into a single housing and
labor market – becoming in effect
the world’s largest innovation
district. RBNE

8. A little history…

9. The New
Housatonic
Railroad
(1983-Present)
• A new Housatonic Railroad was chartered in 1983 by John Hanlon, Jr. to lease 34
miles of the former line, from Boardman Bridge in New Milford north to Canaan,
Connecticut, from the State of Connecticut. Excursion trains began operating
between Canaan and just south of Cornwall Bridge (at Belsprings Siding) in
November 1984. The rest of the line, south into New Milford, was made
serviceable in 1989, giving the company two connections - the Boston and Maine
Railroad (Guilford Rail System) in Canaan and Conrail in New Milford. In April the
Housatonic began to serve Becton, Dickinson and Company, a plastics plant in
Canaan, but almost immediately the line was severed at Falls Village by a washout,
not repaired until 14 months later.
• Excursions End, Freight Shipments Decline
• In 2008 HRRC considering the possibility of resuming commercial passenger
service along the entire line from Danbury to Pittsfield, and in May 2010 began a
formal study of the same. The estimated cost of upgrading the railroad to support
passenger trains was estimated to be between $100 million and $150 million, not
including the cost of the required equipment.[1]
• In 2011, the Housatonic Railroad decided it would not renew its agreement with
BSRM to continue operating passenger excursions over their railroad. Colin Pease,
spokesperson for HRRC, said, "The Housatonic Railroad has determined that the
continued operation of the Berskshire Scenic Railway on Housatonic-owned tracks
is no longer possible." Despite millions invested by the state, track conditions grew
worse and freight shipments declined.
• In July 2014, Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Board of Directors
authorized the purchase of 37 miles of the railroad's Berkshire Line. MassDOT's
purchase is intended to extend rail services to New York City, following track
improvements for passenger and freight service between Massachusetts
and Connecticut.[2][3]

10. Click bit.ly/massdotfeb18 to write!

11. As the region’s
indispensable
backbone the
Housatonic Railroad
Corridor would have
multiple, positive
impacts
• Reverse demographic trends
• According to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which conducted
a review of Berkshire County’s 2010 federal census data, annual population
decline could increase 37% by 2030
• Keep and keep attracting a critical cohort
• “The county young adult population has actually gone up…explains BRPC in
Berkshire Benchmarks. Young Adults: 80% ENJOY LIVING in the Berkshires
• Complete an “incomplete transportation network”
• The Berkshires has a very “incomplete transportation network.” According
to a recent study prepared for the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority,
“access to transportation for low wage workers is needed for economic and
workforce development in Berkshire County.” Someone living in Pittsfield or
Lanesboro could commute to a job in Gt. Barrington; older people could use
the train to get to medical appointments at BMC; teenagers from Lenox
could go to a movie at the Triplex.
• Produce significant economic benefits
• An estimated increase of $625 million in additional goods and services
produced and sold in the region in the first decade of the project, with this
increased productivity creating an additional 610 jobs (733 during the initial
construction phase).
• Stimulate “Transit-oriented development” areas
• Pittsfield, Lee and Great Barrington are ideal towns for transit-oriented
development (TOD)—the clustering of a mix of uses around rail transit
stations to create a vibrant neighborhood.

13. …keep and keep attracting a critical demographic…
• Demographics
• A key Berkshire County Age
Cohort increased overall between
2010 and 2015
• Economic Future: A
Reconsideration
• The “declining cost of distance”
and the ability to communicate
on Broadband will increasingly
make The Berkshires an appealing
locale for high-tech
manufacturers.
• Berkshires will certainly not
become the next Silicon Valley.
But it has the potential to appeal
to numerous individuals and
firms in high tech businesses.
Sources: Elliott Morss, The Economic Future of the Berkshires – A reconsideration; 1Berkshire, Berkshire Initiative for Growth
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39
Berkshire Count Age Cohorts - estimate
2010 2015
Current young adult residents: 80% ENJOY LIVING in the
Berkshires
Main draws for young families:
• HIGH QUALITY schools
• The NEW ENGLAND experience: horses, historic
homes
• Large number of CULTURAL experiences year-round
• Beautiful and easily accessible NATURE
• EASY ACCESS to big cities and airports
• RAIL ACCESS to urban areas would be a plus: , rail link
access to the Berkshires would have symmetrically:
increasing potential to access jobs and housing in and
out of the county.

14. …complete an “incomplete
transportation network”…
• While the BRTA fixed bus routes serve
areas with high transit demand in 12 of
the 32 Berkshire county communities, the
service does not address the needs of
second or third shift workers or those that
work on Sunday, as well as those whose
homes or jobs may be more than a mile
from a fixed-route.

15. …and, stimulate “transit-
oriented development”
Pittsfield, Great Barrington and Lee are ideal
towns for ”transit-oriented development”—
the clustering of a mix of uses around rail
transit stations to create a vibrant
neighborhood.
According to MassINC, “transformative TOD
policy tailored to the dynamics of these
markets has the potential to catalyze
investment and revitalization, yielding
economic, environmental, and fiscal
benefits.”

16. What is the
Train Campaign
asking from
Beacon Hill and
the
Transportation
Committee
Move Housatonic passenger
rail from Tier 3 to Tier 2
Ensure that freight lines are
adequately maintained and
invested in
Engage with Connecticut to
ensure investments are made
to bring Connecticut portion
on the Housatonic corridor to
full freight standard
Initiate feasibility study of a
passenger line together with
Connecticut once the
commitments to the freight
lines are in place.
What is the
Train Campaign
asking of
Beacon Hill and
the
Transportation
Committee?

17. Move Housatonic Passenger Rail to Tier 2
Click bit.ly/massdotfeb18 to write!
• Tier 2 – Warrants further study: These
projects require further understanding of
the project definition (type of service,
alignment, etc.) and the relationship
between the magnitude of costs and
benefits. These projects will be revisited in
subsequent plans.
• Tier 3 – No action recommended at this
time: Projects included in Tier 3 have
associated implementation challenges, are
either complex and/or expensive, are less
consistent with the vision for rail in the
Commonwealth, or have benefits not
commensurate with the cost that are
apparent through the screening in this
exercise. These projects would require
significant partner support or a change in
circumstance for further consideration in
subsequent plans
T I E R 3 - N O AC T I O N R E CO M M E N D E D AT T H I S T I M E (LO N G -T E R M PA S S E N G E R R A I L P R OJ E C T S)
PROJECT TITLE LINE REGION BENEFITS FEASIBILITY COST
Tier3
Privately Operated
Commuter Rail
Service between
Worcester and
Providence
P&W
Mainline
Central Med Low Interest by private
sector initiator, but
challenges associated
with ridership and
access agreements.
N/A
Limited
Info
Palmer Station Inland
Route
Western Low Low Limited market with
little local planning to
establish station
context.
$-$$
Housatonic
Passenger Rail
Service
Berkshire
Line
Berkshires Low Low No current likelihood
of service
improvements in
Connecticut.
$$$
Passenger Service
to
Montreal via
Springfield
Inland
Route
Western/
Vermont
Low Low Challenges associated
with line
ownership/shared use
and coordination with
CSX. Low ridership
and capacity on line.
$$$$

18. Engage with Connecticut..

19. …on track rehab for freight
operations at a level that will
enable passenger trains to
operate safely within the existing
right of way…

20. …and, a
cost/benefit
feasibility
study that
addresses
critical
parameters
Cost of repairing
and upgrading
track
The estimated total
cost of the rail
infrastructure
improvements in
both Connecticut
and Massachusetts
needs to be
calculated using two
(even three) very
different costing
systems. Using
private sector costs
will more
accurately reflect
what a system can
be built for by a
private railroad; a
private approach
may combat
Massdot's and
probably ConnDOT's
preference to load
up on the costs.
Ridership, trip
time and cost
Estimated
ridership based
on surveys of
residents of the
Berkshires, NWCT
Hills and other
Connecticut
locations, and
metropolitan NYC
Estimated trip
time and costs
competitive
with current
Wassaic line
Economic
benefits
[regional]
Total economic
output
Employment: jobs
during initial
construction and
upgrade; induced
jobs from deep
analysis
Additional Tax
revenue federal,
state and local
during first 10 years
Real estate:
increase in value of
residential
properties
Automobile traffic:
reduction in fatal
accidents and
associated costs
Global warming:
reduction of global
mean temperature
Celsius

21. What can you do
as a resident of
the Berkshires and
a citizen of the
Commonwealth?
Respond by March 2 to the MassDOT Draft
Plan Click bit.ly/massdotfeb18 to write!
Call the office of Senator Hinds and your
representative
Write to members of the Transportation
Committee [see following slide ]
Reach out to friends, neighbors and
colleagues
Click bit.ly/massdotfeb18 to write!

22. Members of the Transportation Committee: they hold the very
future of one the Commonwealth’s most precious assets in their
hands
NAME POSITION DISTRICT E-MAIL
Senate
Joseph A. Boncore Chair First Suffolk and Middlesex Joseph.Boncore@masenate.gov
Eric P. Lesser Vice chair First Hampden and Hampshire eric.lesser@masenate.gov
John F. Keenan Member Norfolk and Plymouth John.Keenan@masenate.gov
Michael F. Rush Member Norfolk and Suffolk Mike.Rush@masenate.gov
Dean A. Tran Member Worcester and Middlesex dean.tran@masenate.gov
House
William M. Straus Chair Tenth Bristol William.Straus@mahouse.gov
Carolyn C. Dykema Vice-chair Eighth Middlesex Carolyn.Dykema@mahouse.gov
Thomas P. Walsh Member Twelfth Essex Thomas.Walsh@mahouse.gov
Kenneth I. Gordon Member Twenty-first Middlesex Ken.Gordon@mahouse.gov
Daniel M. Donahue Member Sixteenth Worcester Daniel.Donahue@mahouse.gov
Daniel J. Ryan Member Second Suffolk Dan.Ryan@mahouse.gov
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. Member Twenty-eighth Middlesex Joseph.McGonagle@mahouse.gov
Adrian Madaro Member First Suffolk, Consisting of Boston: Ward 1 Adrian.Madaro@mahouse.gov
William Driscoll Member Seventh Norfolk, Consisting of Milton William.Driscoll@mahouse.gov
Joan Meschino Member Third Plymouth, Consisting of Hingham: Joan.Meschino@mahouse.gov
Steven S. Howitt Member Fourth Bristol, Consisting of Norton Steven.Howitt@mahouse.gov
Randy Hunt Member Fifth Barnstable Randy.Hunt@mahouse.gov
Hannah Kane Member Eleventh Worcester Hannah.Kane@mahouse.gov

23. Deadline for comments: March 2, 2018
Click bit.ly/massdotfeb18 to write!
I urge you to include the following in the final Plan:
• A full study of the Housatonic Line aimed at restoring passenger service, as
well as immediate action to bring benefits from the Commonwealth's
investment in the MA portion of the line: move this from Tier 3 to Tier 2.
• A new interstate planning model that emphasizes rail systems instead of
just rail lines. States, especially in New England, have to work together on
rail.
• A modern east-west train service to amplify the impact of all north-south
services, with Pittsfield as the final western destination.
• (Completion of study of Berkshire Flyer proposal, which is already
mentioned in the Rail Plan.)