MassDOT
MassDOT on Feb. 3 announced that it has selected South of Palmer Yard as the best site for the future Palmer train station, “a critical milestone in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s efforts to advance West-East Rail.”
The site, located about a half mile from downtown Palmer, was chosen following months of extensive review that included community engagement and feedback from local stakeholders. Based on the comparative evaluation of sites, this site offers the amount of property needed for a platform to accommodate ADA needs and passenger train length, and, of nine alternative sites evaluated, is a preferred site as it will have fewer permit requirements and will be more affordable to build, according to MassDOT. Of the sites included in the Level 2 Comparative Evaluation, public feedback also favors Site B, for its relative proximity to downtown.
“The South of Palmer Yard location has great potential as a future stop within the Compass Rail network, and the local stakeholders’ feedback has been invaluable in helping us reach an informed decision,” said MassDOT Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger. “The site’s strategic location within Palmer and its cost-effective geography are significant benefits for the community both short- and long-term.”
The project team will now begin to develop a conceptual design, which will allow MassDOT to engage with railway owner CSX, the site property owner, and proposed service operator, Amtrak, on the feasibility of constructing a future station.
Compass Rail is made up of existing and proposed West-East and North-South services intersecting at a robust hub in Springfield. Compass Rail – Passenger Rail for the Commonwealth – is a vision for intercity passenger rail within Massachusetts and beyond. The goal of Compass Rail, MassDOT says, is to “enhance mobility, expand transportation choice, and support economic development goals through transportation investments.” Compass Rail integrates existing MassDOT-supported services with new, proposed services in a unified vision.
Existing services supported and managed by MassDOT under the Compass Rail banner include the following Amtrak-operated routes:
- Vermonter between Washington, D.C. and St. Albans, VT with Massachusetts stops in Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield.
- Valley Flyer between New Haven, CT and Greenfield with Massachusetts stops in Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield.
- Hartford Line and Northeast Regional between Springfield and New Haven, CT or Washington, D.C.
- Berkshire Flyer, a seasonal, pilot service, between Pittsfield and New York City.
West-East Rail represents proposed, new Compass Rail services that focus on improved connections between western and eastern Massachusetts. These routes include:
- Inland Route to operate between Boston and New Haven, CT via Springfield.
- Boston & Albany Corridor via Pittsfield.
It is expected that future passenger service through Palmer would be included in the proposed West-East routes, which would be operated by Amtrak and would include an Inland Route between Boston and New Haven through Springfield and a Boston and Albany route. Both routes would use the Boston & Albany Line owned and operated by CSX.
More information on Compass Rail is available here.
CapMetro
The CapMetro Board of Directors recently approved the implementation of a new fare payment system designed to “enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and incorporate upgraded payment technologies,” such as Tap to Pay. The upgrades will launch on March 1, 2025, when the CapMetro app will be retired and replaced with the Umo and Transit apps.
Customers will use the new Umo app to pay their fares and use Transit to plan their trip. The updated fare collection system changes are part of an iterative process to “reduce the number of customer apps and ensure a better boarding and riding experience,” according to CapMetro.
“Anything we can do to improve the customer experience makes it easier for people to try transit and improves the overall satisfaction for everyone—our customers, operators, visitors and occasional riders as well,” said CapMetro Chief Experience and Engagement Officer Samantha Baez. “These upgrades simplify the payment and boarding processes and lay the foundation for a smoother transit experience in Central Texas.”
The upgraded system marks a significant milestone in CapMetro’s commitment to delivering innovative and user-friendly transit services. Key features of the new system include:
- Tap to Pay: Customers can use contactless payments to pay their fares using credit or debit cards, as well as digital wallet platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- New Validators: New fare scanners, ‘validators’, with improved scanning, visual, and audio indicators are being installed across the fleet to ensure faster and seamless boarding. The installations are expected to be completed by mid-February 2025.
- Improved Mobile App: The CapMetro app will be retired. Customers will begin using Umo to pay for fares and the existing Transit app for trip planning—part of a long-term strategy to simplify digital tools. The two apps will be integrated as part of this process.
- Reloadable Fare Cards and Digital Passes: A new reloadable fare card that reduces single-use waste while retaining fare capping cost savings benefits for frequent riders. CapMetro will retire its digital 31-day and 7-day passes. Future digital payments will automatically allow for daily and monthly fare caps, so customers never overpay for a ride and don’t need to pay the full amount upfront.
- No Changes to Fare Rates: Fares are not changing; only the way CapMetro collects fares is changing.
CapMetro is actively engaging customers to ensure a successful transition, including how and when customers can begin transferring their fare balances. During the upgrade process, some buses may be equipped with dual validators for testing and continued fare collection. Customers are encouraged to ask their operator for help during the transition. Rail systems will also receive new handheld validators to validate tickets purchased through mobile apps or ticket vending machines.
More information about the new fare payment system and upcoming changes are available here.
CTC
CTC on Jan. 31 allocated $1 billion for projects “aimed at solving mobility challenges and aiding California’s continued efforts to make the highway system more resilient to climate change,” according to Caltrans.
Of the total investment allocated this month, nearly $623 million comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and another $295 million via Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Among the projects approved:
- $6 million for the city of Sacramento to help build a new light rail station serving Sacramento City College.
- $1,000,000 to assist the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission and San Joaquin Council of Governments to improve rail and transit services. The funding will be used to improve transit network integration and connectivity to other rail and transit services. The enhancements will improve local and regional system integration in the Central Valley subsequently increasing ridership and improving safety for transit passengers.
