Transportation 2035 - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

December 2012FIXED GUIDEWAY (RAIL)In an effort to increase mobility in southeastern New England, the State of Rhode Island, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, enteredinto the Pilgrim Partnership Agreement (PPA) in 1988 whereby the MBTA provides commuter service to Providence Station. It is a continuation of the bi-stategoal to improve mobility within the shared corridor. In 2010, RIDOT and the MBTA entered into the South County Operating Agreement under which, theMBTA extended commuter rail service to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick and Wickford Junction in North Kingstown. New service to Warwick/T.F. Green Airportbecame fully operational on December 6, 2011 and new service to Wickford Junction Station became fully operational on April 2, 2012.SAFETEA-LU and its short term extensions, along with MAP-21, have provided funding for the development and operation of commuter rail service in RhodeIsland. Rhode Island receives between $3 million and $4 million annually from the Fixed Guideway Rail Modernization funds administered by the FederalTransit Administration (FTA). The New Start discretionary program provides another source of funding from the FTA for commuter rail facilities in the State.Rhode Island has used New Start federal funding for the purchase of MBTA commuter rail coaches and for the design, construction and right-of-wayacquisition, of the Pawtucket Layover Facility and the Wickford Junction Station.For the first three years of service, Rhode Island has used Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to fund ongoing operating costs of the newcommuter rail service. The primary cost for commuter rail operations are payments to AMTRAK for use of the Northeast corridor south of Providence, and forinsurance to indemnify AMTRAK from any loss due to incidents related to commuter rail service. MAP-21 extended the eligibility for the use of CMAQ funds toallow for operating costs of services intended to reduce congestion, provide alternative means of access, and improve air quality by taking vehicles off of theroads. Depending on the amount of CMAQ funding available through authorizations beyond September 30, 2014 (the end of MAP-21), state funds may beneeded in the future to continue and expand commuter rail service.The federal fixed guideway apportionments are being used to fund capital maintenance costs of the commuter rail service and for capital projects required bythe MBTA operating agreement.FUTURE PROJECTS (RAIL)The annual fixed guideway apportionment to Rhode Island is not sufficient to fund the growing demand for commuter rail facilities and service including cost ofoperations. The following projects have been requested by local communities and/or identified in State planning documents for further study pertaining tocommuter rail feasibility: Pawtucket; Kingston and Westerly; Cranston, East Greenwich, West Davisville; Blackstone Valley; and Aquidneck Island.Transportation 2035 (2012 Update)State Guide Plan Element 611Rhode Island Statewide Planning ProgramPage 3-6