A vision of a more traversable New England

I wrote previously about the merits of public transportation.  A ticket is less costly than gas and tolls, a ride on the train is more relaxing than a drive in traffic, and its impact on the environment is significantly lower than automobiles.  It is for this reason that I was excited to learn that the MBTA board would be voting today to extend the commuter rail in Providence to T.F. Green airport in Warwick, RI and even further south to North Kingston, RI.  I am very hopeful that this measure will pass and set in motion this project.

This extension will allow travelers the choice of flying out of either Logan or T.F. Green with relative ease.  It will also significantly ease traffic around the Rhode Island airport.  Further, it will make travel to, from, and through Rhode Island significantly easier.  Finally, if previous rail extensions are any indicator, the Rhode Island government will most certainly be getting its $336 million worth, as rails that connect other parts of a state to economic hubs such as Providence or Boston (this does both) help improve the economy and create jobs in the area, by allowing residents access to more highly paid jobs and injecting that money into the local economies.

Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we’ll be doing the same thing in Manchester and Concord, New Hampshire

-- James A. Aloisi, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary, in reference to this extension

I share Mr. Aloisi's sentiments.  A project jointly funded and operated by Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to extend the Lowell line to New Hampshire would be a great benefit to both states, for the same reasons cited above.  It would ease traffic, save commuters money, facilitate travel, give easier access to the Manchester airport, and improve the economy.  And why stop there?  Let us continue to extend the commuter rail and make travel from anywhere in New England to any other part a breeze.  The Lowell line should be extended north through Nashua, Manchester, Concord, and Berlin, stopping at various towns in between.  The commuter rail should seek to lease the right to run trains on Amtrak's Downeaster lines, a very popular train that extends from Portland to Boston.  I believe the MBTA's trains could charge less and make more stops than the Downeaster does, bringing access to Boston, to eastern New Hampshire, and southern Maine and giving Baystaters greater and cheaper access to those areas.  Another project that has been discussed for years, but with little progress is the extension of the Stoughton line to Fall River and New Bedford, a project that would bring much needed economic revitalization to the area.  My next recommendation involves the use of the existing Amtrak line from Worcester to Albany via Springfield for another extension of the commuter rail and the addition of more stops than are currently offered by Amtrak.  Springfield, like New Bedford and Fall River, would greatly benefit from the economic revitalization this would bring.  A final addition could even involve an extension of the commuter rail from Springfield to Hartford and on to New Haven and New York.  This one would, of course, be a joint effort with Connecticut, as both states would greatly benefit. 

The end result of these various additions would be a smaller New England where Portland, Concord, Boston, Lowell, Worcester, Springfield, Hartford, New Haven, Providence, New Bedford, and Fall River are all neighbors.  Travel throughout the region would be inexpensive, easy, and relaxing.  Commutes, vacations, visits for all New Englanders would have less impact on the environment.  Finally, economic renewal would ensue as New Englanders would get jobs, spend money, and make business deals throughout the region.  Although the price of these extensions would be great, the result would be priceless.