RIDOT accepting proposals for Pawtucket commuter rail station

THIS IS THE site of the proposed Pawtucket/Central Falls commuter rail station. The project was awarded a $13.1 million federal TIGER grant. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
THIS IS THE site of the proposed Pawtucket/Central Falls commuter rail station. The project was awarded a $13.1 million federal TIGER grant. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PAWTUCKET – State transportation officials this week started accepting proposals from construction firms to design and build a new commuter rail station to serve Pawtucket and Central Falls.

The site, at Pine Street and Goff Avenue in Pawtucket, is on the existing Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority line between South Station in Boston and Providence. It is expected to attract travelers from both Central Falls and Pawtucket, who now either choose Providence or Attleboro stations.

The R.I. Department of Transportation hired a consultant that estimated the daily boardings for the Pawtucket-Central Falls station at 519, according to Charles St. Martin, a department spokesman.

The $40 million station is expected to include platforms for both southbound and northbound travel, as well as an elevated walkway for pedestrians to cross the tracks safely. The plan is not expected to include new construction of parking for vehicles.
The pursuit of the station has extended for more than 10 years.

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According to RIDOT, the financing breaks down as follows: $13.1 million federal TIGER grant; $5.9 million in state funds; $3 million from Pawtucket and Central Falls; and $18 million in federal funding.

In addition, a $7 million federal grant will allow for a future bus hub at the site for RIPTA.
The state expects to award a design-build contract in early summer, with ground being broken in late 2017.

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