South Attleboro
A purple and silver passenger train with a diesel locomotive arriving at a station
An outbound train arrives at South Attleboro in June 2013
General information
Location1315 Newport Avenue
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Coordinates41°53′51″N 71°21′21″W / 41.8976°N 71.3558°W / 41.8976; -71.3558
Line(s)Attleboro Line (Northeast Corridor)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transport GATRA: 11, 16
City Bus RIPTA: 1, 35
Construction
Parking579 spaces ($6.00 fee)[1]
Bicycle facilities2 spaces
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone7
History
OpenedJuly 30, 1990
ClosedFebruary 26, 2021 (temporary)
Passengers
20181,144 (weekday average boardings)[2]
Services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Pawtucket/​Central Falls
toward Wickford Junction
 Providence/​Stoughton Line Attleboro
toward South Station
Pawtucket/​Central Falls
toward Providence
 Providence/​Stoughton Line
(Special events)
 Attleboro
toward Foxboro
Location

South Attleboro station is a temporarily closed MBTA Commuter Rail Providence/Stoughton Line station in Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is located under Newport Avenue (Route 1A) in the South Attleboro neighborhood, just north of the Rhode Island border. The station had two side platforms serving the two tracks of the Northeast Corridor, connected by a footbridge to a park-and-ride lot.

Construction of the station was approved in 1987 and completed the next year. Opening was delayed by a dispute between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB) because the station was not accessible. After the MBTA and MAAB reached an agreement on the length of accessible platforms, the station opened in July 1990. The footbridge was in poor condition, with two sets of stairs closed off. The MBTA issued a contract for design of station improvements, including a new footbridge with elevators, in 2020. The station was temporarily closed on February 26, 2021, due to structural deterioration. Demolition took place in 2023.

Station design

South Attleboro station was located under the Newport Avenue (Route 1A) overpass at the far southern edge of Attleboro, just 500 feet (150 m) from the Rhode Island line.[3] The station had two 780-foot (240 m)-long side platforms bracketing the two tracks of the Northeast Corridor.[4] At the west end of the low platforms were 60-foot (18 m) high-level "mini-high" platforms that provided accessible boarding.[5] A footbridge with ramps and stairs connected the south (northbound) platform to the southbound platform and the parking lot on the north side of the tracks. The 579-space parking lot filled before the end of the morning peak.[6][1]

History

Former stations

The Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) opened a new route from East Junction (near Hebronville in Attleboro) to Providence via Pawtucket in October 1847 to serve a new downtown Providence station.[7]: 29  There was no station at the modern site, which was not in a populated area during the 19th century; the nearest stations were at Hebronville to the east and Pawtucket–​Central Falls to the west.[8][9] The B&P was acquired in 1888 by the Old Colony Railroad, which was in turn acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1893.[9] The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was formed in 1964 to subsidize suburban commuter rail operations; the line became the Providence/Stoughton Line. Hebronville closed before the MBTA era, while Pawtucket–Central Falls closed on February 20, 1981 when Rhode Island stopped its subsidies and service was cut back to Attleboro.[10]

Planning and construction

A railway station with long low platforms and short lengths of high-level platforms
Accessible mini-high platforms at the station

In August 1987, the MBTA approved plans to build a new station at South Attleboro to relieve crowding at Attleboro station.[11] Commuter service returned to Providence on February 1, 1988, but the Pawtucket/Central Falls station remained closed.[10] The $3 million station was completed in September 1988; however, the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB) refused to let the station open. The station did not meet state requirements for accessibility: the footbridge had only stairs and no ramps, and no high-level platforms had been built.[12]

The MBTA built ramps and "mini-high" platforms (short sections of high-level platforms) at an additional cost of $1 million in mid-1989.[12] However, the station remained closed because the MAAB insisted on full-length high-level platforms, while the MBTA wished to only build the cheaper mini-high platforms.[12][13] The MBTA's appeal of the MAAB ruling (which came two years before the Americans with Disabilities Act mandated accessibility nationwide) had system-wide implications, particularly for the then-inaccessible Green Line.[13]

After a judge ruled in favor of the MBTA, the two agencies reached an agreement in March 1990 under which existing mini-high platforms would be extended to 45 feet (14 m) long, and accessible platforms would be installed at all commuter rail stations by 1997 (which did not occur).[5] South Attleboro station ultimately opened on July 30, 1990.[10][14]

The MBTA began operating Providence–Foxboro service for events at Gillette Stadium in 1997, with South Attleboro as one of the intermediate stops.[15][16] South Attleboro station was the southern terminus of regular weekend service on the line until June 29, 2006, when Rhode Island began funding weekend service to Providence.[10]

Reconstruction

A footbridge over an electrified railway line, with staircases boarded off
The footbridge in 2013, with two deteriorated staircases closed

In the 2010 Northeast Corridor Master Plan, Amtrak indicated long-term plans to add two outer station sidings and high-level platforms to South Attleboro, allowing Amtrak trains to pass stopped MBTA trains.[4] More immediately, portions of the station were in poor condition, with a 2012 report indicating that two sets of stairs were closed due to rust damage. Although the station had mini-high platforms for level boarding, certain accessible-required elements such as tactile platform edges were missing.[6]

MBTA plans for a $4.9 million renovation, which would not have fixed the footbridge, were criticized by local officials in 2019.[17] That November, $4 million for design of a more extensive renovation was approved by the MBTA Fiscal Management Board.[18] The project will include full-length high-level platforms, a new footbridge with elevators, an improved bus stop, and changes to the parking lot.[19] Design work began in April 2020 and was expected to last 18 months.[20] Some repairs were considered to be made in the interim.[21]

On February 26, 2021, the station was closed due to deterioration of the overpass.[22] By March 2021, the reconstruction was expected to cost $48 million, of which only $7 million had been funded; the existing station was expected to reopen in April.[23][24] However, in May 2021 the MBTA indicated that the station would remain closed until the reconstruction project was complete.[25] Design reached 75% completion in September 2021 and 100% in April 2022.[26][27][28] By January 2023, funding for the station had not yet been approved.[29]

In July 2022, the MBTA indicated that the old footbridge would be removed that fall.[19] Early construction was expected to last through February 2023.[30] However, demolition work did not actually begin until April 17, 2023.[31] Only a small portion was removed before work was paused "due to procedural issues".[32] Demolition work resumed in late September and was completed on October 14.[33][34]

Bus connections

South Attleboro station is served by three local bus routes, which stop at the Bristol Place shopping center just to the east: Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) routes 11 and 16, and Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) routes 1 and 35.[35][36]

By federal law, bus systems like RIPTA that receive federal funds usually cannot cross state lines; thus, despite demand, RIPTA previously could not run directly to the station. In 2009, the agency considered building a $300,000 bus turnaround for the 77 (now 1) route just over the Rhode Island border.[3] In 2013, RIPTA began a two-year-long systemwide reorganization; one specific objective of the project was to secure federal permission to run directly to South Attleboro.[37] RIPTA extended routes 1 and 35 to Bristol Place in June 2014.[38] GATRA service to Bristol Place was discontinued prior to 2012 due to low ridership, but resumed in 2015.[6][39]

References

  1. 1 2 "South Attleboro". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  2. ↑ Central Transportation Planning Staff (2019). "2018 Commuter Rail Counts". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  3. 1 2 Barrett, Chris (December 24, 2009). "RIPTA buses may stop near Mass. trains". Providence Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 The NEC Master Plan Working Group (May 2010). "The Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Master Plan" (PDF). Part II: page 7. Amtrak.
  5. 1 2 Rosenberg, Ronald (March 31, 1990). "Accord should improve commuter rail access for the accessible by '97". Boston Globe. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. 1 2 3 Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization and Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (2012). "Commuter Rail" (PDF). 2012 Regional Transportation Plan. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ Humphrey, Thomas J.; Clark, Norton D. (1985). Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years. Boston Street Railway Association. ISBN 9780685412947.
  8. ↑ "Town of Attleboro". New topographical atlas of surveys: Bristol County, Massachusetts. Everts and Richards. 1895. pp. 92–93. hdl:2452/206017 – via Massachusetts State Archives.
  9. 1 2 Karr, Ronald Dale (2017). The Rail Lines of Southern New England (2 ed.). Branch Line Press. p. 176. ISBN 9780942147124.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
  11. ↑ Howe, Peter J. (August 23, 1987). "MBTA to build police facility, South Attleboro rail station". Boston Globe. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. 1 2 3 Ackerman, Jerry (March 8, 1989). "T pressured to open all routes to accessible". Boston Globe. pp. 1, 16 – via Newspapers.com. (second page, third page) Open access icon
  13. 1 2 Ackerman, Jerry (May 29, 1989). "Forest Hills streetcar service on hold". Boston Globe. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ↑ Rosenberg, Ronald (July 30, 1990). "Starts and Stops: Old Colony line inspires a petition duel". Boston Globe. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ↑ "[Advertisement]". Boston Globe. October 11, 1996. p. 90 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "If you're going to the game..." Boston Globe. September 14, 1997. p. 64 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Hand, Jim (July 31, 2019). "Lawmakers want more repairs to South Attleboro train station". The Sun Chronicle.
  18. ↑ Mia Ping-Chieh Chen (November 7, 2019). "MBTA board OK's Attleboro commuter line electrification, South Attleboro Station upgrades". The Sun Chronicle.
  19. 1 2 Naidoo, Nayan (July 2022). "South Attleboro Station Accessibility Improvements: Prerecorded Overview– 100% Design Update" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  20. ↑ Brelsford, Laura (May 26, 2020). "SWA Initiatives—May 2020" (PDF). p. 8.
  21. ↑ Hand, Jim (January 9, 2020). "South Attleboro rail overpass is safe, transportation chief says". The Sun Chronicle.
  22. ↑ "Alerts: Commuter Rail". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. February 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Accessibility Improvements at South Attleboro Station: 30% Design – Virtual Public Meeting" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 4, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Report from the General Manager" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 29, 2021. p. 19.
  25. ↑ Brelsford, Laura (May 24, 2021). "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—May 2021" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. p. 7.
  26. ↑ Lorence, Stella (September 30, 2021). "Design plans nearing completion for overhaul of South Attleboro train station, official says". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  27. ↑ "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—December 2021" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. December 2021. p. 7.
  28. ↑ "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—May 2022" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. May 2022. p. 7.
  29. ↑ Rhodes, George W. (January 18, 2023). "South Attleboro commuter rail station project still awaiting funding". Sun Chronicle. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  30. ↑ "South Attleboro Station Accessibility Improvements Project Construction Work to Take Place beginning This Fall 2022" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 4, 2022.
  31. ↑ Rhodes, George W. (April 16, 2023). "Demo work to start on dilapidated South Attleboro commuter rail station". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  32. ↑ Rhodes, George W. (June 29, 2023). "Work stalls at closed MBTA station in South Attleboro". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  33. ↑ Rhodes, George W. (September 18, 2023). "Demolition at South Attleboro MBTA commuter rail station now expected to be done by end of October". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  34. ↑ Rhodes, George W. (November 1, 2023). "South Attleboro train station demo done; MBTA looking for funding to rebuild". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Statewide System Map". Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. 22 April 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Routes". Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  37. ↑ Landis, Bruce (May 21, 2013). "RIPTA prepares to reorganize routes to improve service". Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  38. ↑ Public Hearing & Comment Period Report: Rhode Island State Rail Plan (PDF). State Planning Council Transportation Advisory Committee. March 13, 2014. p. 3.
  39. ↑ "GATRA shifts to meet needs of customers". The Sun Chronicle. March 9, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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