CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Transportation Planning Committee Meeting September 27, 2012 At the Commission Offices, 2 Washington Square, Union Station 2 nd fl., Worcester, MA 01604-4016 Attending: Phil Joinville, Chairperson, Auburn Charles Richard Williams, Rutland Bill Linnane, Westborough Robert Hassinger, Grafton Richard Baker, Boylston Bill Coyle, Auburn DPW Otto Lies, Commission Chairperson Staff: Richard A. Rydant, Project Manager Judith C. Pearson, Administrative Assistant 1. Around-the-Room Introductions Chairperson Joinville opened the September 27, 2012 Transportation Planning Committee (T- Committee) at 6:00 P.M., and asked for around-the-room introductions. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the July 26, 2012 T-Committee Meeting Upon a motion by Charles Richard William, duly seconded by John F. Knipe, Jr., the members unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the July 26, 2012 T-Committee as presented. 3. Announcements of General Interest Mr. Rydant announced that a $4.4M grant was awarded to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) to replace 3 of 12 old diesel buses from the fleet. He said he was not sure if the Transit Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) will need an adjustment at this time. He also discussed the new WRTA hub being constructed next to Union Station and the Operations and Maintenance Center to be erected on South Quinsigamond Avenue in Worcester. Mr. Williams asked when the electric buses would arrive and Mr. Hassinger asked where they were built. Mr. Rydant said that he would obtain that information for the members. 4. CMMPO Business TIP Approval Mr. Rydant told the members that the proposed amendment to the 12-15 TIP was approved by the CMMPO for $1.2M for the Rte 12/20 project in Auburn that addressed long standing drainage problems. The entire project was approximately $7.2M on the TIP. Additionally, he stated that the WRTA received approval for monies that had been originally programmed for replacement buses to be applied to fund other projects that included canopy with solar panels and electric charging stations for the WRTA hub and additional fuel. Mr. Rydant
also explained that there was some redistribution at the state wide level of left over federal monies and the CMRPC region was not impacted. 5. Presentation: Regional Short-line Railroads Mr. Rydant stated that he had given the following Powerpoint presentation, Rail Freight/Intermodal=Economic Development at the recent Quarterly Commisison meeting where speakers from Intransit Container, P & W Railroad and CWS ConsultingGroup were invited and also at the New England Rail Expo and Forum: Overview of the Role of Regional Planning and Potential Benefits: Planning assistance, opportunities and services Input to long term planning efforts Potential for funding at the state and federal levels Forging lasting relationships Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) Regional transportation policy and programming body Decides use of federal-aid target transportation funding CMMPO has 10 members Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) Serve as technical planning staff to MPO Staffing levels vary between urban and rural regions 9=200K0 Role varies by state Multi Modal and Intermodal Transportation Planning Building relationships with the local providers of rail freight Shortline Railroads Intermodal Facilities Important federally-required documents Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), 2032 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), 2013-2016 Freight Planning Progress Report series MPO Certification Document Development Open and cooperative process Must involve all major modes Freight and passenger railroads have the opportunity to participate Current conditions, various challenges and future visions Freight Railroads Serving the Region CSX Transportation East Brookfield and Spencer Railroad Grafton & Upton Railroad MassCentral Railroad North Brookfield Railroad Pan Am Railways Providence and Worcester Railroad Map of the Region s Rail System
National and Regional Rail Freight Carriers CSX Transportation-Eastern US 21,000 miles Pan Am Railways Northern New England 750 miles Providence and Worcester Railroad Southern New England 500 miles 2012 N. E. Rail Forum and Expo: Year of the Shortlines Examples of the Central Mass. Planning region Locally based providers Periodic interactions Continues to evolve Range of focus Considered ongoing process East Brookfield and Spencer Railroad 7 miles Performs switching operations for the New England Automotive Gateway (NEAG) The NEAG is a modern intermodal facility serving major automotive producers CSX has noted the NEAG as one of the most efficient automotive years in their entire system Map of NEAG Grafton and Upton Railroad, 17 miles Line invigorated and restored under new ownership, serves modernized intermodal yards and line side customers There exists a strong potential for intermodal growth along the line Railroad seeks cooperate and partner with local host community leadership to both inform and educate Map of Grafton & Upton Railroad MassCentral Railroad, 26 miles Phoenix Plaza industrial park established at South Barre terminus The South Barre intermodal yard is ideally located for rural customers, both agricultural and industrial American Rock Salt invested in the construction of a modern salt shed, additional parcels are currently available Map of Massachusetts Central Railroad North Brookfield Railroad 4 miles Never abandoned, this formant community-owned line is being resurrected and reconstructed Survey work, vegetation removal and installation of track and highway crossing are forthcoming, encroachment has occurred Strong potential exists for line side customers Map of Map of proposed North Brookfield railroad MPO/RPA Activities and Assistance East Brookfield and Spencer Railroad
Operator has been engaged in the regional planning process for nearly 20 years. Lines of communication maintained with host community officials Early impact studies were reviewed by staff, particularly land use, zoning and traffic, on behalf of the hose namesake communities. Numerous site mitigation techniques used at the NEAG, including concrete sound barriers, earthen berms, secure perimeter fencing and gatehouse, overhead lamp pole height limitations, as well as unprecedented CSX horn blast restrictions. MPO/RPA Activities and Assistance Grafton & Upton Railroad Reconstruction and revitalization of the line described in CMMPO s 2012 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) document. Prior to new ownership, there was the strong potential for a rail trail conversion. With the rail revitalization, there is now an alternative to long distance trucking within the hose communities. There is the future vision of Commuter Rail service being extended from Franklin to Hopedale, site of the 1MSF Draper Mill building MassCentral Railroad Owned mainly by the Commonwealth, staff provided limited peripheral assistance with a physical assessment of the line, including maps showing all at-grade highway crossing and bridge structures/culverts, potential for TIP inclusion for track rehab considered by CMMPO and PVMPO. A series of Environmental Profile maps were prepared for the operator working in tandem with the hose community of Barre, in order to help establish a Priority Development Site under 43D The railroad s terminus in South Barre is where Phoenix Plaza is located, new industrial park with economic development potential North Brookfield Railroad Staff provides limited peripheral assistance during the resurrection of the dormant line A series of Environmental Profile maps were prepared for the Selectmen, who also serve as the Railroad s Board of Directors Land Use staff provided zoning guidance to the Selectmen, preparing for new line side industry. Potential operating working with community leadership Full inclusion in the Regional Planning Process Membership on Various Advisory & Technical Committees National Highway System (NHS) Connector Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Limited Technical Assistance Meeting Host for Regional Transportation-Related Events Broker of Multi Modal and Intermodal Data-Traffic Counts, speeds, classifications
Mr. Rydant took questions and comments from the members. 6. Other Staff Updates Staff Presentation on Community Planning at APTA Sustainability Conference Mr. Rydant reported that staff members Jonathan Church and Mary Ellen Blunt made a presentation at the ATPA Sustainability Conference in Philadelphia, PA regarding the new WRTA hub, purchase of electric buses and the new WRTA Operations and Maintenance Center. Staff Presentation on TIP at Mass. Association of Regional Transit Authorities (MARTA) Mr. Rydant told the members that some of the transportation staff gave a presentation on the TIP at the MARTA 2-day meeting regarding the procedures to set up a transit TIP and regulations that are involved. Rail Forum at CMRPC Quarterly Commission Meeting This item was discussed previously in the meeting. Staff Presentation on Rail at Mass. Economic Development Council Meeting Mr. Rydant stated that he had done a presentation regarding the CMMPO and the TIP and its major projects at this meeting. 7. Upcoming Meetings MassDOT Performance Management Meeting-MAP21 legislation and Performance Mr. Rydant reported that this meeting will be held on October 31 st in the afternoon rather than in the evening. CMMPO Meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 10 th at 4:30 P.M. CMMPO Advisory Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 24 at 3:00 P.M. CMTPC Meeting will be held on October 25 th at 6:00 P.M. Mr. Rydant also mentioned a listening session to be held at Worcester City Hall on Tuesday October 2 nd from 5:30 to 7:30 PM sponsored by MassDOT for citizen input. 8. Adjournment Upon a motion by Robert Hassinger, duly seconded by Charles Richard Williams, the members unanimously voted to adjourn the September 27, 2012 meeting at 6:59 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Judith C. Pearson Administrative Assistant
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