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February 20, 2017 Viewpoint

Worcester needs commuter rail investments

Timothy P. Murray

As we come off the high of the Patriots capturing their fifth Super Bowl and watch various highlights from this epic game, I am reminded of the quote from one of my heroes, Vincent Lombardi, who said, “Inches make a champion.”

The Edelman catch, Danny Amendola's touchdown reception and James White's game clinching touchdown run were all successful by inches. Bill Belichick, who is a branch off of the Lombardi coaching tree, understands better than most the intent of Lombardi's quote. That is – the ability to gain the crucial inch that determines victory, often comes as a result of hard work, preparation and never giving up.

These same principles apply to the progress we have made during the past 15 years to expand commuter rail service between Worcester and Boston and contemplate the work ahead as we seek to improve MBTA service. Hard work, persistence and preparation has allowed a team of public and private-sector leaders to go from six roundtrips a day to 20, which now includes the first nonstop service between Worcester and Boston.

This progress, three yards at a time – in keeping with the football analogy – has contributed significantly to the unprecedented private-sector investments in and around Worcester's Union Station. Developers, property owners and business owners including the City Square, Theater District and Gateway Park projects all tout the presence of rail service as a major catalyst for their investments.

However, as we seek to build on and leverage this positive economic development momentum, we must work diligently with our local legislative delegation and the Baker Administration to ensure state and federal transportation investments include Central Massachusetts. Track infrastructure and signalization upgrades must be completed in the upcoming year. So as to facilitate more nonstop and express train services between New England's two largest cities, we must identify funding to study the feasibility of locations for possible rail sidings between Worcester and Boston. This issue, along with limited double tracking, should also be contemplated as commuter rail service between Boston and Springfield is studied. This is critical in meeting the needs of freight rail, which is vital to our local economy.

Moreover, as new or rehabilitated locomotives and coach cars are acquired, we need to make sure the Worcester-Framingham line receives its fair share. Lastly, enhanced Wi-Fi service and other amenities such as bar cars on evening trains should be explored to attract a new generation of riders.

Progress on this issue, like football, is a game of inches that requires hard work, preparation and teamwork.

Timothy P. Murray is president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

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