(The article is by a former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, not some crackpot.)
“Forecasting is a lot easier when there are clear clues. And when it comes to assessing the trap Attorney General William Barr and President Donald Trump appear to be setting for us, the warning signs are plentiful. We don't need to read tea leaves for this. We only need to review tweets.”
A message from South Coast Rail:
We are excited to announce that the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) approved the first major construction contract to build South Coast Rail’s Fall River Secondary on May 11. The low bidder is the Joint Venture of Skanska DW White, with a bid of about $159 million. Since the groundbreaking in July 2019, South Coast Rail has spent close to $100 million on construction work, real estate acquisition, vehicle procurement, and related design and contract management and administration. This contract award is another major milestone as the project continues to move forward.
The contractor will build two new Commuter Rail stations – one in Freetown and one in Fall River. The new Freetown Station and Fall River Depot Station will both include accessible high-level side platforms and feature additional amenities that include a drop-off area and bicycle parking. Including designated accessible parking and parking for electric vehicles, Freetown will also feature 107 parking spaces, with 220 parking spaces at Fall River Depot. Fall River will also include a bus drop-off area on North Main Street.
The contract package also includes a layover facility for train storage in Fall River at Weaver’s Cove. The facility features six tracks where trains will be stored before beginning service daily and after ending service. The secure site will also have an 1,800-square-foot crew building and parking areas for employees.
The Fall River Secondary contract also includes work on twelve miles of track, eight railroad bridges, one under-grade bridge, ten grade crossings, six interlockings, ten culverts, and additional systems infrastructure. The project includes the installation of new rail, ballast, and sub ballast; raising the track in some locations; and installing ballast vibration mitigation. Retaining walls will be constructed as required. The railroad bridges are in Lakeville, Freetown, and Fall River.
The MBTA has obtained all required permits to begin construction, which is expected to take thirty months and begin this summer. The total contract amount awarded to Skanska DW White JV was $158,975,000.
Read more about the award in the MBTA’s media release
The MBTA also advertised the second major construction package for the New Bedford/Middleborough Line today. This contract includes constructing four new stations - one in Middleborough, one in East Taunton, and the Church Street and New Bedford Stations, as well as a new layover facility in New Bedford. More details will be provided in future emails. By later this year, both contracts will be underway. The project team has been meeting regularly with Phase 1 communities and will continue to do so as the project advances. Phase 1 service is anticipated to be up and running by the end of 2023.
Please be advised that effective March 25, 2020, MassDOT, MBTA, its consultants and contractors must maintain full compliance with the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Guidelines and Procedures for All Construction Sites and Workers at All Public Works Sites until further notice.
Depending on the timing of events, the project will continue virtual public meetings or resume public meetings as the project advances.
For more information, see the project website: www.mass.gov/southcoastrail. If you have any questions or comments, please email SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us.
Thank you for your interest in South Coast Rail,
Jean Fox, Director of Community Engagement
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