New Bedford 2020 - VHB.com

A City Master Plan New Bedford 2020Freight ServiceNew Bedford is uniquely positioned to address regional intermodal freight transportation due to its linkages to theseaport, rail, highway, and airport. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that freight transportationdemand will rise 92% from 2002 levels by 2035. The development of a strategic freight transportation network thatintegrates and maximizes the effectiveness of the city’s multi-modal transportation system and infrastructure iscritical.The intent of intermodal transportation is to decrease the traffic congestion on the major roadways by utilizing railand shipping freight mechanisms, coupled with strategic roadway transport, to create the most efficient system formoving goods. Re-establishing multi-modal connections and improving roadway infrastructure will significantly increaseboth the volume of goods transported, and the throughput of goods through the city and through the region.The PortThe Port of New Bedford is a critical component of the multi-modal network. The Port is a deepwater commercialport with easy access to the maritime corridor from the Massachusetts coast, and is located on the northwesternside of Buzzards Bay approximately nine nautical miles from the Cape Cod shipping canal, 83 miles south ofBoston and 166 miles north of New York. The Port serves as the city’s greatest natural resource and most criticalasset to stimulate investment, attract new industry, create jobs, and develop a healthy economy. New Bedford is thenumber one value fishing port in the nation generating economic activity in excess of $1 billion annually.The Port also serves as an important land/sea intermodal center for ferry, cruise, excursion, water taxi, and otherpassenger operations bringing over 100,000 people through the Port annually.Key Transportation ProjectsSouth Coast RailOf all the transportation projects currently being planned forNew Bedford, the one that will have the most significant impacton transportation in and around the New Bedford region will bethe SCR project. Essentially, the SCR project will restorepassenger rail transportation from South Station in Boston to thecities of Fall River and New Bedford along an existing freightrail corridor running south from Taunton to Fall River and NewBedford. The project will include the construction of severalpassenger stations and two terminal layover facilities. For moredetails, visit the SCR Project website. 2Credit: Greg GuimondThe proposed Whale’s Tooth Station will be the southeastern terminus for the SCR branch and will be the hub forNew Bedford bus services, including SRTA local and regional buses, as well as private inter-city carriers. Whale’sTooth Station will spur redevelopment of the waterfront area, focusing on parcels adjacent to Whale’s Tooth Stationdesignated for mixed-use development with city center densities.The proposed King’s Highway Station will include the redevelopment of an existing shopping center and providean opportunity to create a mixed-use neighborhood center that combines retail, office, entertainment, and otheruses close to new multi-family units.2 For more details, visit this website: www.southcoastrail.comTransportation7-4