• Mass Coastal Railroad (MC) Discussion

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New England
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New England

Moderators: MEC407, NHN503

  by Red Wing
 
I'm all for this whole rail and trail thing all the way to the ferry! Rehabilitate the trail and build the rails!
  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
In case anyone would like to attend there is a public meeting this Tuesday 2/27 @ 8:30 am at the Mashpee Public library in which the UCCRTS Board of Managers will be holding a discussion about the future operations of the Otis transfer station. I'm sure the Bike path group will be present to voice their agenda for removing the RR tracks to the station, so will see if the meeting gets out of hand or not.

https://www.mashpeema.gov/upper-cape-re ... nts/216491
  by Mtx713
 
MC 2014 and 2012 bringing 3 refrigerated cars south over the RT 18 overpass at 20:23 this evening
  by malbojah
 
Looks like the Gallo siding under the Sagamore Bridge is nearing completion. All the ties and rails have been laid, and they've even started putting all the ballast down
  by New Haven 1
 
Has anything happened regarding what the beginning of the video below mentions concerning commuter rail to Falmouth and Hyannis?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQWfqd2xMI0

While the video mentions the trail to Falmouth could be removed as the state has the right to do so if the right of way width is the standard 3 rods then there is room for both.

It's nice to know that now we are about 1/4 the way into the 21st century that at least a few people are trying to apply 21st century solutions to traffic congestion like rail travel as opposed to the 20th century thinking that was rip up the rails now and worry about it later. I know that rail trail enthusiasts are still stuck there but, that doesn't mean everyone should follow suit.
  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
While the Bike trail group continues to push for track removal the opposite is already in process. MassDOT has phase one of the Bourne Rail with trail project construction scheduled on the State CIP list starting in 2025. Once it starts the BRT's fantasy dream is over as phases #2 and #4 are presently in the design stage and are listed below. When it opens select Bourne from the City project list and scroll down the projects to view.

https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/project ... ctinfo.asp
  by malbojah
 
Hopefully some of MasDot fixes this year include the crossing at County road in North Falmouth
  by GP40MC1118
 
Looks like more cleanup of Bay Colony filing issues as a result of the Mass Coastal takeover. Heard the customer is C&D oriented.
  by MBTA F40PH-2C 1050
 
Mass Coastal's newest addition, the 2016, was in Selkirk over the weekend, should be on L005-05 tonight to transfer to L006-05 in Attleboro tonight
  by Goddraug
 
Massachusetts Senator Susan Moran has filed an amendment to the annual budget to try and use MassDOT to remove the rails on the Falmouth line for the Bourne Rail-Trail. The vote is happening tomorrow.

In the nicest way I can manage, the attempts to remove the rails on this line seem borderline obsessive. Would this even fly, considering the rails see frequent use hauling the trash from Otis and the fight from Mass Coastal/Joint Base Cape Cod would be pretty hefty?
  by GP40MC1118
 
She would make ex-Falmouth Rep Turkington proud, considering he snuck in measures to abandon/convert the North Falmouth to Falmouth portion to a bike trail. That being said, they are oblivious to the fact the STB would have to approve this and its doubtful they would. Then again, this is Massachusetts. At least she is not running for reelection.
  by bostontrainguy
 
The bike lobby is strong. Lets hope more sensible people stop this dumb idea. They should be pushing for restoring the rails to Falmouth not removing them.
  by Train60
 
Goddraug wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2024 2:54 pm Massachusetts Senator Susan Moran has filed an amendment to the annual budget to try and use MassDOT to remove the rails on the Falmouth line for the Bourne Rail-Trail. The vote is happening tomorrow.

In the nicest way I can manage, the attempts to remove the rails on this line seem borderline obsessive. Would this even fly, considering the rails see frequent use hauling the trash from Otis and the fight from Mass Coastal/Joint Base Cape Cod would be pretty hefty?
I just found the amendments that she's hoping will pass without anyone noticing.

Bill S.2856
Amendment ID: S2856-333

Amendment 333

Rail Trail

Ms. Moran moves that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

SECTION X. The department of transportation shall authorize the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority to begin conversion and construction of a “rail-to-trail" bike trail on the current Falmouth Secondary Rail Line.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Bill S.2856
Amendment ID: S2856-331

Amendment 331

Rail Connection

Ms. Moran moves that the proposed new text be amended in item 1599-1016 by inserting the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $8,750,000 shall be expended for the construction of a rail spur connecting Joint Base Cape Cod to the Cape Cod Main Rail Line, provided that funding for the rail spur shall be administered by the department of transportation” and by striking out the figure “$1,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$9,750,000”.
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