PAWTUCKET, R.I. – MBTA this week opened its Pawtucket Layover Facility in Rhode Island, which officials say will improve rail service.
The facility was a joint venture between MBTA and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and boasts a six-track commuter rail yard for the purpose of overnight storage of commuter rail equipment.
“This state of the art facility is capable of housing more equipment, which means more service for our customers,” MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said. “Our mission is to preserve our customer base, while at the same time attract more customers.”
Prior to opening the new facility, trains were stored at an overcrowded facility in Attleboro, Mass., MBTA officials said.
“Over the last few years, we have made major strides in our effort to upgrade Rhode Island’s transportation system,” Gov. Carcieri said.
“This new layover facility in Pawtucket will build on work going on in other parts of the state to improve our highways, rebuild our bridges and extend rail service to Warwick and Wickford,” Carcieri added. “This is the type of project that most Rhode Islanders never see, but it is nonetheless essential for ensuring the efficiency of our state’s transportation network.”
The new facility will accommodate the recent expansion of MBTA commuter rail service on the Providence-Boston corridor. On July 24, the number of weekday roundtrips between South Station and Providence increased from 11 to 15.
In addition, for the first time weekend service is available providing nine roundtrips on Saturdays and seven roundtrips on Sundays.
Construction of the Pawtucket Layover Facility began in May 2003 at a cost of $18.5 million.
