User:Phalanx0032/sandbox

= South Coast Rail Edits = South Coast Rail page.


 * [] denotes text from the article that will be combined into the section.
 * "Phase 1 permitting and funding" and "early contract awards" headers were removed, but the text was retained in other sections. - COMPLETE
 * Whale's Tooth under terminus in the sidebar should be changed to New Bedford. The station was renamed and referred to as such in the official MassDOT sources. - COMPLETE
 * Listing each contract as its own heading in hindsight seems to specific for the article; it may make sense to combine these. I will be giving this some thought.
 * Diagram ideas - these diagrams would be helpful, but unsure how to proceed without violating copyright laws.
 * A description is given to the three possible alignments considered during planning for the project. A diagram of the possible routes would be helpful.
 * A photo showing phase 1 and 2 overlaid on a map would be helpful. The station diagram at the bottom is also helpful and could be integrated into the article.

COMPLETE
After previous service was discontinued in 1958, the project surfaced in the 1980s. A full planning process was held starting in 1990 but was suspended in 2002 due to increasing costs. Planning restarted in 2007 and in March 2017, the project was split into two phases. Phase 1 provides interim service to Fall River and New Bedford while the northern section of the line is built in Phase 2. Several separately-funded projects were constructed between 2013 and 2019 in preparation for the project. Phase 1 construction began on July 2, 2019 with a projected cost of $1.047 billion and completion at the end of 2023. Total cost of the program is estimated at $3.42 billion with completion in 2030.

Funding - COMPLETE
[On April 22, 2019, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack announced that funding and Army Corps of Engineers permits for the Phase 1 plan were in place and that the project will proceed "full speed ahead," with a late-2023 target date. In July, 2019, the Baker-Polito Administration filled an $18 billion transportation bond bill that included $825 million for Phase 1 South Coast Rail. The total cost of Phase 1 is $1.047 billion and will be paid entirely by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through bonds under the Rail Enhancement Program.

Project Changes - COMPLETE
[The substantial delay and increase in cost caused officials to consider alternate plans, including an earlier, interim service to New Bedford via Middleborough] with 7 round trip trains to New Bedford and 6 round trip trains to Fall River on weekdays.

Pre-Phase 1 Work - COMPLETE
[In February 2010, MassDOT received a $20 million TIGER grant to replace three bridges in New Bedford built around 1907, for immediate freight use and future South Coast Rail service. The grant represented part of the $71.4 million the state had applied for to fund the Fast Track New Bedford project, which would have included a fourth bridge, construction of Whale's Tooth station with bus and ferry facilities, and pedestrian and bicycle access improvements. The MBTA opened bidding in July 2010 and issued a Notice To Proceed in October 2010; the replacement bridges opened for Massachusetts Coastal Railroad freights in November 2011.]

[In mid-November 2013, MassDOT replaced 42,000 ties along 33 miles of the Fall River and New Bedford branches, funded as a freight improvement project that also serves as a prerequisite for South Coast Rail.]

[A $18.4 million project was issued in October 22, 2014 and reconstructed six grade crossings in Taunton, Freetown, and New Bedford. The Dean Street (US-44) crossing in Taunton was replaced in August 2015 with work projected to last until late 2016. ]

[On November 25, 2014, a $42 million contract was awarded for the replacement of three bridges (President Avenue, Brownell Avenue, and Golf Club Road) in Fall River plus the Wamsutta Street bridge in New Bedford. The bridges were completed in early 2017. ] All projects within the Pre-Phase 1 work were funded separately from the South Coast Rail Program.

Phase 1 - COMPLETE
On June 18, 2014, the MassDOT board awarded a $12 million one-year contract (with to $210 million possible over 10 years) to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.] and HNTB Corp. [for "program management, early design development, and environmental permitting".] While MassDOT managed the early action culverts and bridges contracts, oversight of the program was transferred to the MBTA in preparation for the start of Phase 1 construction. To provide additional assistance, the MBTA also awarded a $62 million contract to AECOM for Program and Construction Management of South Coast Rail. Phase 1 was separated into 8 contracts, with some contracts combined.

Contract 1: Special Trackwork
[On December 14, 2018 a contract was awarded to Progress Rail for long lead time special track work to be used in South Coast Rail construction.] The program includes 57 turnouts that will allow trains to move between tracks and connect sidings to the mainline track. Deliveries of turnouts began in mid-2019 and are expected to continue through early 2021.

Contract 2: Early Action Culverts & Tarkiln Road Grade Crossing Improvement
[On March 6, 2019, an $18.3 million contract was awarded to J.F. White for the removal and replacement of 46 culverts along the corridor, along with cleaning 16 culverts, drainage and grade crossing improvements, and construction of wetland impact mitigation areas.] The Tarkiln Road grade crossing in New Bedford will also be reconstructed and the drainage improved in preparation for future City of New Bedford work in the area.

Contract 3: Early Action - 4 Bridges
[On April 22, 2019 a $22 million contract was awarded to J.F. White for the replacement of four rail bridges (Cotley River North, Cotley River South, Cedar Swamp River, Fall Brook), one culvert, and associated track replacement. These bridge replacements will allow for faster freight and passenger trains and restore the second track over Cotley River. Substantial completion of all bridge replacements is expected by Fall 2020.]

Contract 6: Middleborough Secondary & New Bedford Mainline Track Infrastructure
Work on the Middleborough Secondary includes 7.1 miles of upgraded track from the junction with the Middleborough/Lakeville line (Pilgrim Junction) through to the junction with the New Bedford Mainline (Cotley Junction). Work on the New Bedford Mainline includes 17.3 miles of track reconstruction from Cotley Junction through to New Bedford, including the rehabilitation of 18 grade crossings and 6 bridges and installation of signal and communication systems. Stations will also be built at Middleborough, East Taunton, North New Bedford, and New Bedford Stations as well as the Wamsutta layover yard next to New Bedford Station.

Contract 10 will also construct a pedestrian bridge at New Bedford Station over Route 18 to connect the station with the residential neighborhood. A third contract (contract 5) will reconstruct the Route 24 bridge over the New Bedford mainline, which is being coordinated with the Route 24/Route 140 interchange project.

Contract 7: Fall River Secondary Track Infrastructure
Contract 7 will reconstruct 11.7 miles of track on the existing Fall River Secondary from the junction with the New Bedford Mainline (My rick's Junction) through to Fall River. Work includes the the construction of two stations, Freetown and Fall River Depot, rehabilitation of 10 grade crossings and 8 bridges installation of signal and communication systems, and the construction of Weaver's Cove layover yard in northern Fall River. A new pedestrian bridge will also be built at the Fall River Country Club.

Other Contracts
Contract 12 includes traffic improvements throughout the project area.

Phase 2 - COMPLETE
The design for the Northern Corridor is being advanced to 30%, which includes several bridges over the Taunton River. Phase 2 work includes reconstructing track from the existing Stoughton station to Cotley Junction to meet the Phase 1 work. Four stations will be constructed along this alignment which includes North Easton, Easton Village, Raynham Place, and Taunton along with reconstruction of Stoughton Station. The Fall River branch will also be extended to a new terminus at Battleship Cove and the entire line will be electrified, including the Phase 1 project area.

Three towns along the corridor have also expressed interest in lowering tracks and building tunnels through their communities. The current plan relocates Stoughton station to accommodate two 800ft high-level platforms. Residents of Stoughton, however, prefer the station to be built underground where it is, and a tunnel be constructed through the town center to eliminate the existing grade crossings. In Easton, the existing right-of-way runs through a tunnel under Main Street, which the town intends to maintain. The local government also supports Phase 1 as the final configuration for the project, citing the visual and environmental impact the project would have on the town. Raynham officials have also expressed interest in depressing tracks under Route 138, citing traffic impacts.

Between Easton and Raynham, the proposed route passes along an embankment that is currently used for off-road vehicles through the Hockomock Swamp. Due to the sensitive environmental area, an 8,500ft elevated trestle is proposed at a cost of $50 million to allow animals to pass under the tracks and limit the disturbance to the existing ground. The trestle would use concrete box girders on piles spaced at 50ft, with a maintenance siding in the middle for rescue operations on disabled trains.

= North New Bedford Station Edits = COMPLETE

Initial designs called for North New Bedford Station (previously King's Highway) to be placed east of the train tracks. During the design process, several issues arose, including relocating a large sewer main, problems with purchasing land, and drainage issues. A plan to share parking with a local cinema was also canceled. As a result, the station was relocated to the west of King's Highway along Church Street. The new station will include 354 vehicle and 22 bicycle parking spaces along with a pocket park. Improvements will also be made to Church Street, including traffic signal upgrades, a new pedestrian crossing, and 2800ft of reconstructed sidewalk. The potential also exists for a new pedestrian bridge over the train tracks to connect a nearby retail area.

North New Bedford Station, along with New Bedford Station, is also part of an 18-month study by the New Bedford Planning Office to determine the viability of the site for Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The study is currently investigating existing site conditions and permitting, and will propose changes to the city zoning and planning department by the end of 2020.