When you think about Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, you probably think of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. The bridge is 544 feet across and raises 134 feet when its in its upright position, and was built in 1935, replacing the original bascule bridge built back in 1910. Last Monday, this area became the topic of discussion at the MassDOT Rail and Transit Division meeting in Buzzard Bay.
New Station
MassDOT is proposing a new CapeFLYER station “Bourne/Canal Landing” on the Cape side. This station would be a short distance from the railroad bridge. It will have a drop off and pick up location, limited parking, and a 400 foot platform. Studies show that people are getting off at the current Buzzard Bay Station and getting into cars and are still fighting the traffic going over the two bridges getting onto Cape Cod. The whole idea of the CapeFlyer is to reduce the amount of traffic going over the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Adding this on-Cape station will allow people to be picked up on the Cape side reducing traffic vehicle on the bridges. From what I understand, this will be an additional stop; there will be still a stop at Buzzard Bay Station on the off-Cape side.
Rail Infrastructure
MassDOT is also proposing multiple upgrades to the area’s rail infrastructure which includes adding sides at both the north and south approaches to the railroad bridge. This will allow multiple trains to used the bridge in one opening. A new 2,500 foot siding would be added on the mainland crossing Buttermilk Bay. Along with adding the new siding, MassDOT would repair the bridge crossing the bay. The on-Cape siding will be just south of the bridge running 4,000 feet past the new proposed Bourne/ Canal Landing Station. Both locations of the right-of-way had two tracks in the past, so there is ample space for the sidings. Along with adding sidings, they will be adding signals between Middleboro and Buzzards Bay. Signals would help with rail traffic and would give the dispatcher remote control of all the switches.
Schedule Change?
There is also talk to change the CapeFLYER’s Friday schedule. Right now, the train makes all commuter rail station stops between Boston and Middleboro/Lakeville; new plans would have the train departing South Station to Braintree then expressing to Wareham Station and then to all the normal station stops after that.
Deadline
It’s my understanding that MassDOT wants to get this project underway right away; they hope to completed the project before the 2015 CapeFLYER season.
Bourne Commuter Rail Station?
There been talk about extending commuter rail service to Bourne via the Middleboro/Lakeville line. The new station wouldn’t be used for commuter rail service. MassDOT officials say if the idea comes to fruition, the station will be located off-Cape, which means commuter rail service wouldn’t cross the Cape Cod Canal.
My Thoughts
I’ve been a huge fan of the CapeFLYER ever since I took a ride on its first trial run back in 2013. All these upgrades seem to make sense. The improvement wouldn’t only benefit rail traffic; it would also benefit the canal’s marine traffic. Fewer and shorter openings would keep the boat traffic moving. I hope to provide updates on the progress of the project in a future blog post.
