Public Stakeholder Meetings Scheduled:Draft State Freight and Rail Plan.

Transmittal to Members of the Central Massachusetts Regional Railroad Advisory Group:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will be hosting a series of public stakeholder meetings to present information and receive input on the draft findings and recommendations of the State Freight and Rail Plan. As indicated below, the CMRPC staff will host the April 1st meeting to be held at Union Station in Worcester. We hope you all can attend.

The draft findings and recommendations are based on a comprehensive evaluation of the Commonwealth’s freight and rail transportation system, their operations and effect on economic development and quality of life. The evaluation includes all modes - air, rail, truck and maritime transportation. The Plan examines the freight and rail infrastructure and operations in the Commonwealth and evaluates the trade-offs between different modes as well as intermodal options (transportation by more than one mode, e.g. truck and rail) in its analysis and recommendations. The Plan also includes a detailed analysis of all rail infrastructure and operations, both freight and passenger. The evaluation will conclude with the publication of a State Freight and Rail Plan and a separate, stand-alone State Rail Plan in the spring of 2010.

The following Public Stakeholder Meetings will be held:

Western Regional Meeting
Tuesday, March 23rd from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Kittredge Center – Room KC 303
Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040

Northeast Regional Meeting
Thursday, March 25th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Conference Room #1
State Transportation Building
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116

Southeast Regional Meeting
Tuesday, March 30th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
The Corson Building
New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park
33 William Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

Central Regional Meeting
Thursday, April 1st from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Union Hall (2nd floor)
Union Station Transportation Center
2 Washington Square
Worcester, MA 01604

The meetings will have a presentation on the draft statewide findings and recommendations, but will also focus on each respective region. For more information contact MassDOT Project Manager Ned Codd, 617-973-7473, or visit the website www.mass.gov/massdot/freightandrailplan.