HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-09-20-SILC-min.pdf SI LC SUBREGION INTERTOWN LIAISON COMMITTEE
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BEDFORD
BURLINGTON
CARLISLE
CONCORD
LEXINGTON
LINCOLN
SUDBURY
WAYLAND Minutes
WESTON of Meeting
WILMINGTON in Concord
ACTON
September 20, 1973
H. M. Forbes, Chairman
Selectman Philip H. Suter extended a welcome on behalf of Concord.
Robert H. Murphy of the Executive Department of Transportation and
Construction discussed the present state of plans and work related
to Route 20, Route 2 and Rail Transportation.
Route 20: Renovation is proceeding where needed. One.
point of interest to Route 20 towns is that the Depart-
ment is looking to locally elected officials or citizens'
groups to take the initiative in presenting needs for
improvement both in cases of numbered routes and city
streets. There is currently improvement related to
Route 20 in Waltham.
Route 2: Negotiations on a work statement and contract
for the environmental impact re-study are nearing com-
pletion. A signed contract is expected by the end of
the year.
No effort toward meeting bicentennial requirements will
be made by Environmental Impact Study. Bicentennial
transportation problems are being considered independently
by the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction
under contract with David A. Crane & Partners. Possible
recommendations may include park/ride facilities where
major highways feed railways .
Howard M. Forbes • Robert Rader • Co-Chairmen • 87 Church St. , Weston 02193
Sublug_ion Into Lowu L,:i.ai:ion Conun.►,LLuo • September 20, 1973 • Page 2
No major improvement of Route 2 could be completed
in time to help bicentennial transportation.
Rail Transportation
Technical: Dual propulsion equipment is being considered,
suitable for use over railways and in tunnels . This
rapid transit might be extended over less-than-major
rail routes . Probably present types of equipment would
be retained over major routes such as the Fitchburg,
New Hampshire, and Portland Divisions of the B. & M.
Short Range Prospects
There will be active efforts to "market" maintenance,
better parking at some stations . There will need to be
agreements negotiated with end-of-the-line towns . It
seems possible to offer more frequent train service
during low ridership periods ,during the day because much
of the related cost -- especially for labor -- would be
carried anyway, i.e. holding crews and equipment for
peak-hour service.
Funding
There is in prospect a possible transfer of about
$825 million of highway funds to mass transportation
purposes within Massachusetts, for use within a three-
year period. There are conditions., one of which is
that for each four dollars of Federal money there
would have to be one dollar of Massachusetts money. If
the above sums became available, possible uses would be:
* Special purpose tunnel to airport -- approximately
$200 million.
* Put central artery underground between Haymarket
Square and South Station.
* Rail tracks to join North Station with South Station
rails .
* Extension of rapid transit or similar rail service.
The above items are offered. as interesting examples of
subjects under consideration.
Firm plans for the use of these funds must be submitted
to the Department of Transportation by June 1974.
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Sublogion Intel:town Liaison Commi(.tec • SepLember 20, 1973 • P,kge 3
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Operation
Whenever the Commonwealth has a rail transportation
system ready to go, it is likely that actual operation
would be contracted to a private corporation, for a
period of time, under a mutual agreement that then could
be enforced if necessary by the Commonwealth. This may
be preferable to operation by the Commonwealth or by
one of its public agencies .
Joint Regional TransportationCommittee (JRTC)
Arthur Barnes, JRTC member and also President of Norumbega
Association, emphasized that most transportation problems
are basicly regional or local problems -- not statewide.
JRTC is the medium established to bring local recommenda—
tions to a point where they can receive broad consideration;
also to bring State or Agency initiated plans to a regional
or local point for citizens' criticism.
JRTC is looking to local organization for input.
It is planned to hold the next meeting on Thursday,
October 18, 1973, in Weston. The subject will be:
"Planning at the Substate Level for Delivery of
Government Services. "
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