What you need to know about the return of South Coast Rail — Who's getting new stations?

Namu Sampath

The Enterprise

Published May 12, 2022 

BROCKTON — The South Coast Rail project is back "on track" for the first time in more than half a century with a plan to open to riders next spring. 

Jean Fox, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) project manager, said, "celebrities and locals would travel to and from Boston and Fall River (and everywhere in the middle), in the 40s and 50s." 

"But, in 1959, the same year the Expressway opened, the last train ran," she continued. "Cars and highways were the downfall of railroads and trains."

Brockton is included on the already existing Middleboro main line commuter rail with three stations: Montello, Brockton and Campello. Next year, the Middleboro secondary line, the Fall River line and the New Bedford main line will be added to the route.

MassDOT is currently in the process of phase one of the project, which broke ground in July 2019, where 56 miles of the railroads are being set in place, according to the project's website.  

Prior to the actual construction of the railroads, an early action contract was completed by March 2021.

According to the website, crews: 

• Replaced four railroad bridges,
• Installed 46 culverts as part of the drainage system,
• Ordered and stored long-lead special track materials in advance to reduce construction delays, and 
• Constructed five wetland mitigation areas and began monitoring their success

Now that phase one has commenced, "crews are reconstructing 12.1 miles of the Fall River Secondary, which is currently a freight line, to lift speed restrictions and allow for commuter rail service," Fox said. What the the work crews are doing "includes tree clearing, erosion control and survey work along the tracks," Fox said. 

Construction in the coming years will include:

• Eight rail bridges
• 10 new grade crossings and four interlockings
• Two new stations and a layover facility for storing trains overnight

"Trains on the completed Fall River Secondary Line will travel through Berkley, Freetown, and Fall River," the project's website said. 

As of the end of April 2022, the Fall River Line contract is on track and is at 58% completion. 

Who's getting new train stations?

The South Coast line will include six new stations: two in New Bedford, one in Middleboro, one in Fall River, one in Freetown and one in East Taunton. 

Fox projected that the new line will have about 1,600 riders and will increase overall MBTA ridership. 

"We want to drive home the point of safety," Fox said. "The new trains will allow riders to board from any car, and our new stations will allow for bike parking, car parking and electric vehicle (EV) charging and parking." 

Connecting people with jobs

Another main focus of the rail is increasing economic development and housing opportunities. 

"With the new line, there will be so many great jobs," she said. "The regions included on the South Coast Rail line deserve this connection, and this will boost job opportunities and vitality. Additionally, mixed-use developments will pop up near train stations." 

A letter to the editor published in the Fall River Herald News in 2017 highlighted the facts for many who live near the up-and-coming stations: 

"The new Fall River-New Bedford to Boston commuter rail would tie new cities into transfer of intellectual and professionally valuable citizens. It will provide an opportunity for modernization, change and growth. A new mercantile culture would appear, along with a new vibrancy of educational institutions.

The whole area would catch the flow of new investment dollars in real estate and modern housing. The new rail would provide for migration of the urban millennial generation," the resident wrote. 

Fox agreed.

"Immigrants and minorities will have increased opportunities," she said. "The combination of transportation and education will remove barriers for our communities." 

The new railway will also connect students across the state to opportunities to pursue higher education. 

"I think the South Coast Rail coming back to the gateway cities will create more business opportunities for entrepreneurs and more jobs for residents," said Simone Delphonse, a Ward 3A Brockton resident and career specialist for MassHire, a career center in Brockton. 

Reducing traffic on Route 24?

With motor vehicle crashes on federal, state and local roadways on the rise, taking the train may also be an alternative to heavy traffic, specifically on major expressways. 

"It will also reduce traffic on Route 24 and will bring these communities closer," Delphonse continued. 

Building boom in rail towns?

Many business and property owners whose businesses and homes abut the railways were also in attendance at Friday's luncheon. 

John "Jay" Mahoney, the chief operating officer of Fairview Millwork & Kitchens in Bridgewater, said he sees "great opportunity for the municipalities on the South Coast Rail line (SCRL) to develop smart growth projects oriented around these commuter rail stops." 

Mahoney's hope is that "the construction of the SCRL is a catalyst for the communities on the route, from Brockton and Bridgewater in the north through Fall River and New Bedford in the south, to rethink how enhanced transit options and the unique character of each of their towns could be leveraged."

"Fairview Millwork & Kitchens is a retailer of millwork products for residential construction selling to both homeowners and professional tradespeople," he added.

Work like what Mahoney does invites and welcomes "investments in well-planned construction projects around the SCR commuter stations," he said. "Construction of good homes for families and new business locations provides demand for regional construction-related employment and the purchase of materials from local businesses like ours."

In addition, the MBTA and MassDOT put together a document for abutters to understand what their rights and responsibilities are. One of the main requests the MBTA had for abutters is to remove all personal property from the area so that surveyors may clear vegetation along the "right-of-way," areas. 

Fox also spoke to the accomplishments that have already been completed: 

• $242 million worth of work has been completed as of March 2022
• Four rail bridges have been built, and
• So far, five of 10 culverts, and all 10 crossings have been constructed

Per the New Bedford Main Line and the Middleboro Secondary Line, Fox stated that MassDOT will be testing everything before they are used by the public.

"We are also reusing parts so that nothing gets wasted," she continued. 

What's the deal with the Stoughton line? 

Since the 1970s, Southeastern Massachusetts constituents started advocating for a Stoughton line, which would connect Fall River, Taunton and New Bedford to Boston through Stoughton, Easton and Raynham. 

In the mid-2000's, the Stoughton line was heavily considered alongside the Middleboro line — which was eventually chosen, despite being the slower route to travel by roughly 15 minutes and less climate-friendly. 

"Engineers recommended the Stoughton line because it was the most efficient and effective route connecting all of those communities," said State Sen. Marc Pacheco, who represents the state's first Plymouth and Bristol district and is a longtime advocate of the South Coast Rail project. "The Stoughton line was electrified and would help reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions." 

Then, at the start of the Baker-Polito administration, the governor announced the South Coast Rail project would be broken up into two phases — and the Stoughton line project was derailed.

"People were disappointed, but the current plan for the South Coast Rail is so long overdue," Pacheco said of the current status of the project. "It's better than not having a rail system connecting communities of southeast Massachusetts at all." 

Pacheco hopes that the governor holds true to his promise to build the Stoughton line in phase two. 

"It's really the preferred option," he said. "It's a travesty there hasn't been a connection through Stoughton yet." 

Apart from it being the more efficient of the two routes, the Stoughton alternative could also eventually connect to Rhode Island.

"That would be a better use of federal funding because then multiple states would be connected through one train service," he continued. 

Pacheco also mentioned that phase two of the South Coast Rail project may not happen under the Baker-Polito administration. 

"Our residents are aware that the Stoughton line may not happen in the next few years, but it's within reach to achieve the proper outcomes," Pacheco said. "Our younger generation is doing a lot to make sure the commitment that Gov. Baker made five years ago carries over through to the next governor. The commitment needs to happen now."