News List

Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Congressman Richard Neal, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, and MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera were joined by state and local officials at Westover Air Reserve Base to celebrate the opening of the UMass Transportation Center’s Aviation Research and Training Facility, which is equipped with the technology that creates… Read more »

Gov. Charlie Baker and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal called Tuesday for a Western Massachusetts passenger rail authority that would apply for federal funds and evenly administer expanded east-west commuter rail. “This is an agreement on a path forward here,” Baker said. Amtrak, which has been vocal about its plans to expand in the Northeast, would run the trains, Baker said in a news… Read more »

Federal and state officials Tuesday agreed on a path forward to extend passenger rail service west of Worcester to the cities of Springfield and Pittsfield, an effort designed to finally connect the eastern and western parts of the state by rail. Speaking with reporters after a meeting at Springfield’s Union Station, Governor Charlie Baker and Congressman Richard Neal described plans… Read more »

State and federal leaders agree the development of a Passenger Rail Authority to oversee the East-West Rail project will be important to transportation in Central and Western Massachusetts. On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker and Rep. Richard Neal addressed the media at Union Station in Springfield to discuss the project to extend passenger rail service into Springfield and… Read more »

Governor Charlie Baker spent his day in western Massachusetts Tuesday and stopped by Union Station in Springfield to meet up with local leaders pushing for the East-West Rail Line connecting western Massachusetts with Boston. This is a project we’ve been following for years now. Governor Baker and Congressman Richard Neal joined state legislators Tuesday to discuss a plan forward for… Read more »

Amtrak has restored its Hartford Line service to pre-COVID levels, the passenger railroad announced this week. Seven total trains will return, including two weekday trains, one Saturday train and four Sunday trains. Amtrak said it anticipates increased demand on the line, one also served by the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s CTrail Hartford Line. “With the help of our… Read more »

Can one person direct planes to fly into three different airports from a remote location? What is the best way to fill the shortage of air traffic controllers? What steps can be taken to improve safety at civilian and military airports nationwide? The University of Massachusetts Amherst is hoping to answer those questions and many more with the official opening of its Aviation Research… Read more »

The Berkshires of western Massachusetts, one of the state’s most popular touríst destinations, will be easier to reach for the next two summers with the launch of seasonal Amtrak service from New York City. The Berkshire Flyer service will start July 8 and operate on weekends during the summer with a Friday afternoon departure from New York’s Penn Station to Pittsfield, with several… Read more »

A newly rebuilt runway at Westover Air Reserve Base is being called key to keeping the base in Chicopee and helping the 439th Airlift Wing do its job. Base commander Col. Joseph Janik and other Westover personnel joined with Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau and others to celebrate the reconstruction of the main runway Tuesday morning. “We… Read more »

Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), are announcing pilot seasonal passenger rail service to operate this year and in 2023 to be known as the Berkshire Flyer, with a route between New York City and Pittsfield, MA. The service will be initiated on July 8 and will operate on weekends… Read more »