East Taunton station

East Taunton is a planned commuter rail station, to be built in East Taunton, Massachusetts as part of the MBTA Commuter Rail South Coast Rail project. Under plans released in 2017, it would open in 2023 as part of the project's first phase, then continue to be serviced when the second phase would be completed in 2030.

East Taunton
LocationOff Industrial Drive
East Taunton, Massachusetts
Coordinates41.866215°N 71.059628°W / 41.866215; -71.059628
Owned byMBTA
Line(s)New Bedford Secondary
Platforms1 island platform (planned)[1]
Tracks1
Connections GATRA
Construction
Disabled accessYes
History
Opening2023 (planned)[2]
Planned services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Freetown
toward Fall River
 South Coast Rail Middleborough
Phase 1 (2023)
toward South Station
Church Street
toward New Bedford
 Taunton
Phase 2 (2030)
toward South Station

History

In September 2008, MassDOT released 18 potential station sites, including two potential East Taunton sites: one just west of Route 24 if trains were routed through Middleborough, and one to the north off Route 140 if trains were routed through Stoughton or Attleboro.[3] Neither was located near the former location of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad's East Taunton station, which was located several miles east in the village center along the Middleboro Subdivision.[4] By 2013, Taunton Depot station was proposed for the northern site, using the Stoughton routing. It was to have an island platform flanked by two passenger tracks, with a freight passing track on the western side. [5]

In 2017, the project was re-evaluated due to cost issues. The new proposal calls for early service via Middleborough by 2022, followed by full service via Stoughton by 2030. The proposed Taunton Depot station site was too far north to serve the Middleborough routing, and a station near Taunton was needed because that routing does not run through downtown Taunton. The proposed East Taunton station would be at the previously proposed southern site.[2] However, the 2017 proposal has attracted criticism from local officials across the route, including Taunton officials unhappy that the downtown Taunton station would be delayed until 2030.[6]

A former sports complex on Industrial Drive (1141 County Street) was demolished in 2020 to make room for the station and its parking lot.[7]

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References
  1. Winokoor, Charles (June 19, 2019). "Site plans released for East Taunton commuter rail station". Taunton Gazette.
  2. "Notice of Project Change" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. March 15, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2017.
  3. "South Coast Rail Fact Sheet" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2015.
  4. Karr, Ronald Dale (1995). The Rail Lines of Southern New England. Branch Line Press. p. 327. ISBN 0942147022.
  5. "Figure 3.2-26 Taunton Depot Station Conceptual Station Design" (PDF). Volume II: FEIS/FEIR Figures Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report on the South Coast Rail Project proposed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District. August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  6. Laidler, John (June 16, 2017). "Sharp differences over latest plan for South Coast Rail". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  7. Roy, Linda (August 6, 2020). "North End industrial site demolished for commuter rail station". South Coast Today.
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