House approves money for study; Commuter rail closer to reality?Byline: Karen NugentCLINTON - Money will likely be included in next year's state budget for a feasibility study "A Feasibility Study" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 13 April, 1964, during the first season. It was remade in 1997 as part of the revived The Outer Limits series with a minor title change. on a commuter rail route from Worcester to Boston, with a stop in Clinton, and possibly stops in West Boylston and Sterling. State Rep. Harold P. Naughton Jr., D-Clinton, said yesterday $250,000 was approved by the House for a study that would investigate potential ridership rid·er·ship n. The number of passengers who ride a public transport system. , as well as costs to upgrade stations and depots. The new line would run north using existing rail lines from Worcester through Clinton, eventually linking up with the existing commuter rail tracks Rail tracks are used on railways (or railroads), which, together with railroad switches (or points), guide trains without the need for steering. Tracks consist of two parallel steel rails, which are laid upon sleepers (or cross ties) that are embedded in ballast to form the in Ayer, and proceed along the Fitchburg commuter rail tracks to North Station in Boston. The line would run concurrently with the existing Worcester-Boston commuter rail line terminating at South Station. The money is part of a bond bill through the state Executive Office of Transportation, Mr. Naughton said. It has to be approved in the Senate, and signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick. If the money is not approved in the Senate, it would go to a House-Senate conference committee for discussion, he said. The idea, first proposed in March by Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray and other state officials, was lauded by Mr. Naughton at the time. Yesterday, he said rising gas prices make commuter rail from Clinton to Boston even more attractive. "We've been lobbying for this, and I have a high level of confidence in the administration. The $250,000 puts meat on the bones of the earlier proposal," Mr. Naughton said. He pointed out that an existing depot and tracks go right through the center of town, on Main Street, and property around it could be improved, revitalizing re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. the area. Mr. Naughton said commuter trains could also relieve worsening wors·en tr. & intr.v. wors·ened, wors·en·ing, wors·ens To make or become worse. Noun 1. worsening - process of changing to an inferior state decline in quality, deterioration, declension traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. on nearby Interstate 495. Actually, the effort to bring train service to Boston back to town started as a one-woman show two years ago. Dinorah Caraballo, a New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of transplant who now serves on the Clinton Historical Commission, and is the clerk for several town boards, established a volunteer Commuter Rail Service Committee to study options, and lobby local and state officials. She was particularly dismayed when the Worcester Regional Transit Authority The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) is a public, non-profit organization charged with providing public transportation to the city of Worcester, Massachusetts and the surrounding towns. cut bus service to Clinton last year. Ms. Caraballo said in a letter to Mr. Murray that two town surveys on establishing rail service found that people would like trains for family outings to Boston for shopping and events, and for work. "For students going to school in Worcester, two different bus connections were required, and this took one hour," she said in the letter. "There are no travel options for anyone without a car." |
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