The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board voted Monday to approve a $5 million architectural and engineering contract for major renovations at three commuter rail stations in Newton, targeting construction of platforms and accessibility improvements as key projects, according to this State House News Service story posted by Wicked Local Newton.
The report recommended building a single-track platform on the north side of each station, but left open the possibility of adding an additional platform on the other side to help increase off-peak and reverse peak inbound service.
Constructing both platforms would bump the total project cost up to $112 million, according to a presentation MBTA officials gave at a Newton community meeting in July, and would bump the total program duration from just less than five years to about eight years.
“It gets very expensive to do two sides,” Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said during Monday’s meeting, noting that additional platforms would effectively double the scope of the project because more elevators and steps would be needed as well.
The MBTA board will need to approve a larger construction contract later in the process. If the single-platform plan remains in place, construction itself should take about two-and-a-half years.
Great now how do we expedite the construction timeline? It’s baffling that these platforms take 2.5 years to design and 2.5 years to build. I’m not an engineer but that seems like an excessive amount of time.
The article quotes Rep. Kay Khan and me, but Mayor Ruthanne Fuller also spoke at the FMCB meeting and eloquently advocated for better accessibility, noting how many steps each of the three stations has. Also in attendance was City Council President Marc Laredo and Planning Director Barney Heath. This vote was the best outcome we could have expected. Now we must keep up the pressure so that MassDOT goes beyond accessibility and installs dual side platforms at all 3 stations. To that end here is the testimony I gave at the meeting:
My name is Emily Norton, I am a City Councilor in Newton, and the Newtonville Commuter rail stop is in my Ward.
I appreciate the fresh coat of paint it just received.
We are very grateful for the interest and support of MassDOT in upgrading our commuter rail stations, which are not handicap accessible, and are pretty treacherous even for the able bodied.
I urge you to vote in favor of the proposal in front of you today, so that we can increase access to the commuter rail for those who currently simply cannot use it, including those with physical disabilities or any mobility challenges, such as the elderly or parents with small children.
But I would also like to strongly urge you to move as quickly as possible to implement Alternative 2, which would install platforms on both sides of the tracks.
The current single line platforms are hampering service for the entire Framingham Worcester line.
Upgrading the Newton stops to have platforms on both sides of the tracks is an investment that would have benefits for the entire ridership — and as I’m sure you know, the Worcester line is one of the fastest growing in the whole system.
Specifically, Alternative 2 will help make increased bi-directional frequency on the Framingham Worcester line a real possibility.
This is especially important as we gear up for the I-90 project, which is going to be 2+ years of disruption for all commuters west of Boston – if we reduce the lanes on the Pike, while also reducing service on the Worcester line, for 2+ years? That will be terrible – for employers, employees, the economy, for the quality of life for thousands of people.
So while I’m here to advocate for my ward, I’m also advocating for the thousands of people whose lives will be seriously affected by the I-90 project. You have an opportunity to get ahead of that, by investing in making the Newton stops accessible but also two-track.
In addition, at a presentation by Transit Matters last week in Newton, they offered up the tantalizing possibility of being eligible for Federal Highway mitigation funds, as improving the commuter rail would help mitigate the increased congestion from the I-90 project.