🛤️ 2-25-25 MBTA Community AI Recap

Below is a summarized version of the meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the public forum about the MBTA’s proposed turnback track in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.

Opening and Housekeeping

• 2:16 – Matt Kraunelis (Town Manager)
  Welcomes attendees to the forum, thanks them for attending on a semi-cold evening, and conducts housekeeping (e.g., calling boards to order). Introduces the MBTA team for a PowerPoint presentation, promising a Q&A session afterward.
• 3:33 – Matt Kraunelis
  Calls the Select Board to order with a roll call; acknowledges Senator Jason Lewis, legislative staff, and town employees (police and fire chiefs) in attendance.

MBTA Presentation

• 5:16 – Sharon Cranston (Director for Rail Modernization Delivery)
  Introduces the MBTA team and outlines the presentation’s purpose: to discuss rail modernization and the proposed turnback track in Reading. Emphasizes non-discrimination policies and hybrid meeting logistics (recording, closed captioning, chat for questions).
• 8:05 – Sharon Cranston
  Provides background on the Rail Modernization Program (from 2019 Rail Vision), aiming for increased frequency, all-day service, cleaner fleets (eventually electric), and improved station access. Notes early actions like all-day service and inner/outer core frequency adjustments.
• 9:43 – Sharon Cranston
  Highlights benefits: clock-face scheduling (e.g., trains at :15 and :45), attracting more riders, reducing car use, and supporting climate goals. Targets diverse riders (students, shift workers, event-goers).
• 11:19 – Sharon Cranston
  Defines inner core (roughly within Route 128) with Reading as the boundary for 30-minute service, requiring turnback tracks. Addresses miscommunication with a glossary: turnback track (short siding, unstaffed) vs. layover (staffed storage) or maintenance facility.
• 14:08 – Sharon Cranston
  Details the Reading turnback concept: a short track between Woburn and Willow Streets, operational 5:30 AM–7:30 PM weekdays, with 14 turns daily (adding 6 to the current 8). Procedure takes under 30 minutes legally and operationally.
• 16:15 – Sharon Cranston
  Addresses proximity concerns: turnback location is roughly equidistant or farther from key sites (Housing Authority, Parker Middle School, Collins Field) than the current station. Moves idling outside the environmental justice community.
• 17:23 – Sharon Cranston
  Explains site selection: uses historic double-track bed (removed in the 1960s), within existing right-of-way, 4,500 feet long, designed for train dynamics. Construction estimated at 12 months.
• 18:29 – Sharon Cranston
  Rejects alternatives:
  • Reading Station: Requires a second platform and full rebuild (unfunded, 10-year delay).
  • DPW Site: Operationally infeasible (multiple turns exceed 30 minutes).
  • Wildcat Branch: Eliminates North Wilmington, capacity issues with single track.
  • Near Wildcat: Too far (6 miles), wetland concerns.
  • Move Station South: Unfunded, requires land acquisition.
• 23:16 – Sharon Cranston
  Clarifies numbers: current 150 minutes idling vs. proposed 420 minutes (worst-case model).
• 24:08 – Jeremy Fontaine (MBTA Environmental)
  Discusses environmental permitting: filed Notice of Intent (NOI) on 12/11/2024, withdrawn 2/25/2025 for more engagement. Impacts 1,000+ feet of wetland buffer zone; notifications sent to properties within 100 feet (per updated regs). Outlines construction: erosion controls, ballast replacement, signal upgrades, track pan for locomotive drips.
• 27:41 – Jeremy Fontaine
  Confirms no MEPA thresholds exceeded; culvert near Willow Street to be cleaned spring 2025, replaced later.
• 29:04 – Sharon Cranston
  Shares ridership data (one-day snapshot, February 2025): strong peak use, surprising outbound morning traffic. Cites Fairmont Line’s 18% ridership increase after 30-minute service.
• 30:38 – Sharon Cranston
  Addresses railroad crossings: Willow Street (26/day now, 24/day proposed), others (43/day now, 48/day proposed). Gate closures (~45 seconds) are federally regulated.
• 32:52 – Sharon Cranston
  Stresses the turnback is essential for 30-minute inner core service; without it, Reading gets hourly outer core service.

Q&A Session

• 33:31 – Phil Pacino (5 Washington Street)
  Concerns: turnback proximity to condo association unaddressed, noise at 5:30 AM, freight/Amtrak impacts.
  • Sharon: Noise walls infeasible due to embankment stability, wetland proximity; may amplify sound.
• 37:10 – Unnamed Speaker
  Disputes crossing numbers (claims ~90, not 48), notes environmental justice (EJ) impact at Tannerville (no notification).
  • Jeremy: Confirms notifications sent to property owners; emissions comply with state/federal regs.
• 40:55 – Jim Riley (Hancock Street)
  Asks why not use second rail at Reading Depot (proposed 2022) with Wellesley-style mini-high platforms.
  • Sharon: Depot requires full rebuild (unfunded, 10+ years); Wellesley’s mini-high is interim, not comparable.
• 43:42 – Lucas Prato (85 Hancock Street)
  Calculates Depot turnback at $4.1M vs. $10.9M proposed, questions need for full rebuild.
  • Sharon: FTA regs require full station rebuild for new platform, costing $40-50M (e.g., Winchester).
• 46:47 – Unnamed Speaker
  Highlights crossing delays, poor service reliability.
  • Sharon: Turnback is a step toward modernization; full electrification needs funding proof.
• 49:13 – Dan Moresco (Hancock Street)
  Asks about Hancock Street alternative, Plan B if Conservation Commission rejects.
  • Sharon: Hancock discounted due to sight lines; rejection unlikely as buffer zone lacks strict standards.
• 53:46 – Linda Russo (Hancock Street)
  Questions public safety (fire/ambulance delays), track pan fixing locomotive spot.
  • Sharon: Pan placed farthest from homes; 30-minute idling is maximum, not constant.
• 57:11 – Rebecca Liberman (50 Pratt Street)
  Supports 30-minute service but seeks mitigation (electrification, crossings).
  • Sharon: No station idling improves crossings; renewable diesel soon, electrification by 2032 (funding-dependent).
• 1:00:12 – Mark Agamy (Lee Street)
  Challenges exemptions, seeks formal town approval.
  • Jeremy: Not exempt from MEPA (thresholds not exceeded); Conservation Commission can’t easily deny if standards met.
• 1:03:12 – Stuart May (Summer Avenue)
  Opposes turnback near bird sanctuary, disputes ridership demand post-COVID.
  • Alistair Sawers, head of the MBTA’s Regional Rail Modernization Office: Cites Caltrain (60% recovery with all-day service), local all-day gains; apologizes for proximity burden.
• 1:07:40 – Joseph White (Prescott Street)
  Asks if turnback is needed without schedule change, impact on Wakefield.
  • Sharon: Without turnback, Reading gets hourly service; Wakefield unaffected.
• 1:10:05 – Vanessa Alvarado (near Depot)
  Supports more trains but worries about tripled idling (150 to 420 minutes), timing vs. other fixes.
  • Sharon: Delays shorten dwell time; funding is project-specific (track vs. rolling stock).
• 1:15:31 – Unnamed Speaker
  Challenges 2019-based assumptions, demands current need proof.
  • Alistair: Based on post-COVID trends, all-day service boosts ridership (e.g., Fairmont).
• 1:18:36 – Christine Ford
  Predicts ridership growth from MBTA Communities Act (1,500 units), worsening traffic.
  • Cam Dhy: Agrees, notes transit reduces car emissions vs. 1,500 new drivers.
• 1:21:43 – Jason Russo (Prospect Street)
  Suggests labor-based proof-of-concept over permanent track, seeks timeline for funding proof.
  • Alistair: Labor can’t sustain all-day turns; double-tracking (not electrification) could come sooner with data (not 5 years).
• 1:28:17 – Unnamed Speaker
  Asks funding status, NOI refiling timeline, alternative north of bird sanctuary, parking.
  • Sharon: $10.9M allocated; NOI soon (weeks-months); will review new site; parking relies on local rules, existing demand.
• 1:33:58 – Chris Haley
  Doubts ridership (cites low off-peak counts), asks about late-night idling.
  • Sharon: No overnight idling; off-peak trains serve peak returns, proven elsewhere.
• 1:37:05 – Devon Lang
  Supports 30-minute service as commuter, asks battery-electric lead time.
  • Alistair: Options ordered, power grid delays push to 2032+.
• 1:39:36 – Mark Dockser
  Praises 30-minute service, urges mitigation study (noise, pollution, 7-hour idling).
  • Sharon: Vegetation infeasible; renewable fuels soon, electrification ultimate goal.
• 1:43:16 – Christopher Cook (Grove Street)
  Asks about precedent, enforceable monitoring.
  • Alistair: Beverly, Framingham have turnbacks; emissions regulated federally/state.
• 1:46:08 – Unnamed (Hunt Street)
  Opposes turnback, suggests Depot double-track with $10.9M.
  • Sharon: Funds restricted to infrastructure, not station; Depot closure risks.
• 1:53:56 – David Clark (Police Chief)
  Criticizes lack of public safety consultation, cites gate failures (26/year), response delays.
  • No direct response yet.
• 1:57:50 – Gregory Burns (Fire Chief)
  Echoes safety concerns: ambulance delays, traffic backups (Woburn Street to St. Agnes). Seeks traffic study.
• 2:00:35 – Alistair Sawers
  Gate times federally fixed; tracking available; commits to gate reliability fixes, partnerships.
• 2:03:57 – Brendan Burke (Zoom)
  Asks about closures, pre-2019 service restoration.
  • Sharon: No closures; shifted to all-day vs. peak-heavy pre-COVID model.
• 2:06:43 – Ron Powell (South Street, Chat)
  Asks if single or multi-phase.
  • Sharon: Single-stage within phased rail modernization.
• 2:07:55 – Jim Riley
  Repeats Depot track query, Wellesley comparison.
  • Sharon: Depot historic status irrelevant; funds restricted; Wellesley interim, Reading needs full rebuild.
• 2:11:59 – Unnamed
  Notes Depot shift still impacts neighbors, urges community-wide view.
• 2:12:05 – Unnamed
  Questions drip pans (20 gal) vs. 3,000-gal fuel, safety fencing.
  • Sharon: Fuel risk higher underway; regulated strictly; offers school safety talks, fence repairs.
• 2:16:55 – Chat Member
  Asks minimum idle time.
  • Sharon: 15 minutes minimum, 30 maximum.

Closing

• 2:16:18 – Sharon Cranston
  Commits to reviewing questions, mitigations, and re-engaging community.
• 2:17:16 – Matt Kraunelis
  Thanks attendees, notes letter sent to MBTA with town concerns, awaits response.

Key Themes

1. Project Scope: $10.9M turnback track for 30-minute service, 14 daily turns, 5:30 AM–7:30 PM weekdays, no overnight storage.
2. Community Concerns: Noise, pollution (420 min idling), safety (crossings, response times), proximity to homes/schools.
3. Alternatives: Depot rebuild (unfunded, 10+ years), other sites rejected for cost/time/operations.
4. Mitigation: Renewable diesel soon, electrification by 2032+, drip pans; noise walls/vegetation infeasible.
5. Public Safety: Chiefs demand traffic study, cite delays; MBTA commits to explore.
6. Ridership: Mixed views—some see demand (MBTA Communities, commuters), others doubt post-COVID need.
7. Process: NOI withdrawn for engagement; refiling timeline vague (weeks-months).