Tuesday, January 15, 2013

MassDOT: 21st Century Transportation Plan

MassDOT today released their 21st Century transportation plan, which can be found here: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/0/docs/infoCenter/docs_materials/TheWayForward_Jan13.pdf [PDF]

The plan was put out by Transportation Secretary Davey to outline investments the state needs to make in coming years to both maintain our existing infrastructure, and invest over $13 billion over the next 10 years into new projects, ranging from highway, to rail, to bicycle, to aeronautics.

Some highlights include:
  • New MBTA Red, Green, and Orange Line cars
  • DMU and BRT Pilot Programs
  • Completion of the South Coast Rail project (bringing commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford)
  • Completion of the currently in-progress Green Line Extension in Somerville and Medford
  • Expansion of South Station
  • New passenger rail service between Springfield and Boston (presumably an extension of the Framingham/Worcester line?)
  • Preparation for new passenger rail service between Pittsfield and New York City
  • Continued summer weekend commuter rail service to Cape Cod
  • Implementation of All-Electronic Tolling on the MassPike and eventually statewide
  • A trial of a Vehicle-Miles Traveled tax
  • Various road improvement projects, including both I-93/95 interchanges (Canton & Woburn)
  • New tolls or HOT lanes
Essentially all of these projects are desperately needed, but some of them come as a surprise to me, even though I follow transportation happenings in the Commonwealth fairly closely, like the new Springfield and Pittsfield passenger rail services.

Feel free to share your thoughts below.