Patrick Wants Commuter Rail in Berkshires

One of the key problems for businesses and residents in the Berkshires is getting from here to there, and Gov. Deval Patrick is keen on reviving commuter rail in the region to help us out. While it could be many years before passenger trains return to the Western Gateway, plans are already under way to exend the rail line from New Haven, Conn., through Vermont.

The Northeast Corridor had 14 million riders last year, making up more than half Amtrak's total ridershiop. More than 3 million took the high-speed Acela along the Boston-New York-Washington route.

Patrick's been instrumental in getting the regional rail plan in motion. Recently, the federal government provided some $160 million in stimulus funding (the president has put aside $8 billion to revive rail)  to Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont. The governor said more funding will have to come in stages.

"All the New England governors and New York submitted a plan to Washington," said the governor, in response to a transportation question from David Rooney, president of the Berkshire Economic Development Corp., at Monday's tourism roundtable. "You have to apply for the funding in chapters; we won the first grant, which is to refurbish the rail bed coming up from New Haven to Vermont through Springfield and Greenfield."

The state's take was $73 million to be used fix the detiorated tracks to Springfield, Chicopee, Amherst and Greenfield. Construction in the Pioneer Valley  is expected to start this season and Patrick said a private rail operator has indicated interest.

He's also pushing for high-speed service along the east/west line. Amtrak service "kind of sort of" comes through Pittsfield now, said Patrick, depending on the schedule.

The train trip to Boston can take more than five hours (it's faster to drive) and its erratic schedule can leave passengers waiting an hour or more at the Intermodal Center in Pittsfield, as we, and Patrick, have found from experience.

"This community used to have pretty good rail service connecting different cities and connecting major cities to Berkshire County from outside of Massachusetts and I want to see that restored," said the governor, adding "that's going to have to be part of a long-term agenda."

His championing of rail (and the expansion of the Pittsfield Airport) drew a round of applause and not a few cheers. Still, we don't expect to be sitting by the depot at Western Gateway Heritage State Park anytime soon. But with 21st century broadband heading our way, maybe our dreams of 19th century transportation will come true.