MBTA
Go The
OTHER Way!

POSITION OF CCATS

‘Citizens Concerned About Tracks’ supports reestablishment of safe, efficient and reliable commuter rail service to Southeastern Massachusetts from Boston to the City of Taunton, and the seaport communities of New Bedford and Fall River.

The CCATS Coalition, representing the communities of Attleboro, Taunton, Norton and Mansfield is adamantly opposed to the ‘Attleboro Alternative’ which does not meet the project goal.

We will continue to work with all those who share our vision and commitment to having the Attleboro Alternative removed, once and for all, from consideration for South Coast Rail. And this time, we intend to ensure that the decision is final.

WHY WE OPPOSE THE ATTLEBORO ALTERNATIVE

IN A NUTSHELL - Logic, Safety Concerns, Destruction of Taunton, No Benefits to Other Three Communities in Our Coalition, Capacity Constraints on the Shore Line, Environmental Impacts, ROW Issues with National Grid, Lack of Economic Opportunities…

Logic

The Attleboro Alternative is the most circuitous route, with an extensive trip time from New Bedford and Fall River of one and ½ hours.

Benefits

The Attleboro Alternative would do irreversible damage to Taunton, a city which was supposed to benefit form the extension of commuter rail. Taunton - which hoped to become the ‘Gateway To The South Coast’ (when the Stoughton Route was approved), would instead become a crippled city. The Attleboro Alternative with 15 at-grade crossings in Taunton (eleven within a 1 ¼ mile segment of the inner city) would put those who live or work in Taunton, and the City itself on the ‘Endangered Species List’. Even the strongest advocates for commuter rail to New Bedford & Fall River cannot wish this fate on their sister City of Taunton.

There are absolutely No Benefits to the other three communities in the CCATS Coalition. The trains would not stop in Attleboro or Norton (unless they hit something or someone) and the Town of Mansfield is opposed to the addition of any more trains on their already overcrowded track.

Capacity Constraints

The ‘Shore Line’ portion of the Northeast Corridor from Attleboro, through Mansfield, Foxboro and Sharon is already maxed out, with the busiest schedule of MBTA trains, plus Amtrak High Speed Rail, and CSX freight traffic. There simply is no capacity on this line to add more MBTA trains. If any slots were available, they must be reserved for Amtrak (whose trains run from Boston to New York City, and on to Washington D.C.), not filled by rail service to one region of Massachusetts.

The Environment

The 2.75 mile ‘Attleboro by-Pass’, double track where no rail bed has ever existed, would require: The clearing and habitat loss of 15 acres, The filling of at least 5 ½ acres of mostly virgin wetlands (field studies indicate this is grossly underestimated), Would impact a 100 year floodplain, Include the invasion and fragmentation of several designated conservation areas, and Construction of new double track across Chartley Pond. Reconstruction of old freight track would impact the Three Mile River Watershed. (Note: These are only the highlights).

Right-of-Way Issues

The 2.75 mile Attleboro By-Pass would run along side, in, and cross through the National Grid Right-of-Way. The challenge of engineering and construction of double track here is daunting, but the permanent operation of 30 trains a day in this ROW raises critical, long-term liability questions.

Economic Opportunities

The Attleboro Alternative offers no economic incentives or benefits to the four communities in the CCATS Coalition. Attleboro, Norton & Mansfield have already experienced residential, commercial and industrial growth with access to: Rtes. 95 & 495, as well as commuter rail stations in Attleboro, S. Attleboro and Mansfield. Plans for reconstruction and expansion of the downtown Attleboro Station have recently been approved. And the case for Taunton is obvious.

Conclusion

The Attleboro Alternative is fatally flawed. The destruction it would cause cannot be justified. Inhabitants of our region should not be sacrificed for the perceived good of another region. If CCATS were to endorse any of the alternatives for commuter rail to the South Coast, it would have to be the Stoughton Alternative, because it is the only one that benefits the City of Taunton. ‘Citizens Concerned About Tracks’ was, is and always will be - a regional coalition representing the cities of Attleboro and Taunton, as well as the towns of Norton and Mansfield. There is no offer that can be proffered, to one or even two of our communities, that will alter CCATS united front in opposing the ill-advised Attleboro Alternative. The South Coast Rail project will never come to fruition via this route.