Our Focus: Transportation
Commuter Rail in Pawtucket
Introduction
Among several key transportation investments to bolster non-motorized, pedestrian and automobile circulation through the City, The Pawtucket Foundation is the prime advocate for investments in regional multi-modal transportation improvements such as the plan to restore an MBTA commuter rail stop in Pawtucket. This project not only benefits surrounding neighborhoods, it is the catalyst for necessary transit-oriented development that can reposition Pawtucket as a regional economic competitor.
The Pawtucket Foundation advocates for the establishment of a Pawtucket commuter rail stop with service to Providence, T.F. Green Airport and Boston. The City of Pawtucket has prepared an FTA Small Starts grant request to access $1.96 million in federal funding that has been earmarked for the proposed project.
Available to download:
PCFTS Ridership Study (pdf)
PCFTS 2003 Economic Impact Study (pdf)
Project Summary
Planning, environmental, governmental and economic development organizations throughout the state continue to make a strong case for "smart growth" which takes advantage of existing infrastructure to enhance the strengths of urban centers and provide alternatives to reliance on the private automobile. In Pawtucket and Central Falls, two of the region's most densely populated communities, the Pawtucket Foundation has worked with the City of Pawtucket to identify sites for potential rail stops.
Increased mobility within the metropolitan region — including both Providence and Boston — is one of the basic elements of increased economic opportunity for individuals and households. The re-introduction of commuter rail service into these communities will have profound economic and fiscal impacts, benefiting not only the neighborhoods immediately surrounding a commuter rail stop but also assisting the former mill cities to reposition themselves as regional competitors. Property values in downtown Pawtucket alone can be expected to increase from $21.7 to $82.2 million over a six-year period, depending upon the rate of increase in value. Similar impacts can be anticipated for Central Falls.
The first phase of a ridership study commissioned by the Pawtucket Foundation and carried out by KKO and Associates, LLC characterizes the potential demand for commuter rail service in our community as "promising" with the prospect of attracting as many as 800 daily MBTA passengers.
Access to the MBTA at South Attleboro
In addition to efforts to bring commuter rail service to Pawtucket, the Foundation advocates for improved access to the existing rail stop in South Attleboro. The Foundation is working with the City of Pawtucket and the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) to create a bus turn-around and taxi stand on the Pawtucket side of the stop. The turn-around would enable RIPTA to coordinate bus service with peak commuter rail schedules.