Rhode Island State Rail Program
Commuter Rail program:
Providence
- Began in 1988 through Pilgrim Partnership Agreement with Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
- Providence currently served with 30 trips per day between New England's two largest cities.
- In exchange for service, RIDOT funded construction of MBTA's Pawtucket Layover Yard north of Providence; purchased equipment; and participated in other capital projects along the MBTA line.
South County Commuter Rail Service
- MBTA service extended six miles south of Providence in December 2010 serving T.F. Green Airport along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.
- RIDOT currently constructing Wickford Junction commuter station 20 miles south of Providence that will be served by MBTA trains in early 2012.
- RIDOT studying further expansion of service south to Kingston (University of RI) and Westerly, with possible connection to Connecticut Shoreline East service.
High Speed Rail Program:
Northeast Corridor Service
- RI has Amtrak Acela service at Providence.
- Providence is Amtrak's 18th highest ridership station in the country with over 600,000 passengers per year
- Amtrak provides Regional service at both RIDOT-owned stations in Kingston and Westerly.
Kingston Track Capacity Project
- RIDOT received $1.5 M FRA HSR grant for PE/NEPA for third track within Amtrak's Northeast Corridor for Acela trains to overtake Regional trains.
- Will improve Acela trip time and provide added capacity for future commuter rail at Kingston Station.
Providence Station
- RIDOT to analyze various capacity, parking and freight issues at station, which currently accommodates Amtrak and MBTA trains.
