Chronology - Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop

The Campaign to Restore Passenger Rail to Palmer:

An Illustrated Reverse Chronology

"UMASS - PALMER EAST/WEST RAIL STOP" sticker design, created in January 2020 by a graphic designer at Workshop13 in Ware, at the request of Palmer Rail Steering Committee member Tracy Opalinski. — “UMASS – PALMER EAST/WEST RAIL STOP” sticker design, created in January 2020 by a graphic designer at Workshop13 in Ware, at the request of Palmer Rail Steering Committee member Tracy Opalinski.

2024 Meredith Slesinger, Administrator of MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division, announces selection of a consultant for Planning and Conceptual Design of a Palmer intercity passenger rail station. “This contract will include public outreach, site selection, identification of station amenities and access, conceptual design, and environmental scoping.”

First page of June 6, 2023 letter from the Western Mass Rail Coalition to Gov. Healey supporting inclusion of her proposed funding of Palmer and Pittsfield Rail Projects in MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan. — First page of June 6, 2023 letter from the Western Mass Rail Coalition to Gov. Healey supporting inclusion of her proposed funding of Palmer and Pittsfield Rail Projects in MassDOT’s Capital Investment Plan.

Second page of June 6, 2023 letter from the Western Mass Rail Coalition to Gov. Healey supporting inclusion of her proposed funding of Palmer and Pittsfield Rail Projects in MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan. — Second page of June 6, 2023 letter from the Western Mass Rail Coalition to Gov. Healey supporting inclusion of her proposed funding of Palmer and Pittsfield Rail Projects in MassDOT’s Capital Investment Plan.

2023 Ben Heckscher of Trains in the Valley suggests to the Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop that they work together to get the Palmer and Pittsfield rail projects funded, lobbying the Governor and MassDOT to include them in MassDOT’s 5-year Capital Investment Plan, which was just being finalized. This unusual strategy works, and advocates are credited with its success at MassDOT’s July Board meeting.

2023 The Massachusetts state legislature neglects to include the Governor’s $12.5m for Palmer and Pittsfield in the final state budget.

2023 Governor Maura Healey endorses East-West rail and includes $12.5m in her proposed budget for Palmer station planning ($4m) and Pittsfield track work ($8.5m).

2022-2023 The Mass State Legislature convenes the Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission to study whether or not passenger rail west of Worcester should be run by a separate authority, as suggested in a MassDOT Governance White Paper follow-up to the East-West Passenger Rail Study. (Examining specific sites such as Palmer was not in the scope of the Commission.) The Commission’s final report suggests that MassDOT and Amtrak are in the best position to oversee future rail developments state-wide.

First page of November 28, 2022 letter from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to the Federal Railroad Administration supporting MassDOT's application for a CRISI grant to fund infrastructure improvements to tracks between Worcester and Springfield on the Inland Route. — First page of November 28, 2022 letter from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to the Federal Railroad Administration supporting MassDOT’s application for a CRISI grant to fund infrastructure improvements to tracks between Worcester and Springfield on the Inland Route.

Second page of November 28, 2022 letter from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to the Federal Railroad Administration supporting MassDOT's application for a CRISI grant to fund infrastructure improvements to tracks between Worcester and Springfield on the Inland Route. — Second page of November 28, 2022 letter from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to the Federal Railroad Administration supporting MassDOT’s application for a CRISI grant to fund infrastructure improvements to tracks between Worcester and Springfield on the Inland Route.

2022 Ben Hood, Chair of the Palmer Rail Steering Committee, works with Town Planner Linda Leduc to develop an RFP for a station feasibility and site analysis study. Staff at consulting firm VHB assist the town with writing the RFP, and Dana Roscoe, Principal Planner/Transportation Planner of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, provides invaluable advice.

2022 Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop and Ben Hood, Chair of the Palmer Rail Steering Committee, meet with Executive Director Kimberly Robinson and Principal Planner Dana Roscoe of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, who recommend they advocate for the town to put “skin in the game” by funding a siting study for the future rail stop.

First page of June 12, 2021 Commonwealth Magazine article, "Reviving the Inland Route to NYC," by Ben Hood and Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop. — First page of June 12, 2021 Commonwealth Magazine article, “Reviving the Inland Route to NYC,” by Ben Hood and Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop.

Second page of June 12, 2021 Commonwealth Magazine article, "Reviving the Inland Route to NYC," by Ben Hood and Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop. — Second page of June 12, 2021 Commonwealth Magazine article, “Reviving the Inland Route to NYC,” by Ben Hood and Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop.

Third page of June 12, 2021 Commonwealth Magazine article, "Reviving the Inland Route to NYC," by Ben Hood and Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop. — Third page of June 12, 2021 Commonwealth Magazine article, “Reviving the Inland Route to NYC,” by Ben Hood and Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop.

2021 Amtrak issues its 2035 plan for passenger rail expansion, Amtrak Connects US, which incorporates the East-West Passenger Rail Study, and includes Palmer as a future destination as part of expanded service from Boston to Albany.

2021 The Capitol Region Council of Governments in Hartford, CT, issues The Economic Benefits of Regional Rail Investment in Metro Hartford-Springfield, which includes Palmer, and outlines an estimated 650,000 square feet of additional commercial square footage, 1,800 new housing units, and 1,100 new jobs in Palmer.

A word cloud prepared by Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, showing the frequency of terms used in the public comments submitted during MassDOT's East-West Passenger Rail Study. — A word cloud prepared by Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, showing the frequency of terms used in the public comments submitted during MassDOT’s East-West Passenger Rail Study.

2021 The East-West Passenger Rail Study concludes, with a Palmer stop included in all three final alternatives. Governor Baker publicly endorses the concept during his final year in office, after 7 years of stalling it.

First page of Feb. 23, 2020 document by the Western Mass Rail Coalition, "The Key Elements of an East-West Rail Service," sent to members of the East-West Rail Advisory Committee and to MassDOT's East-West Rail Study Team. — First page of Feb. 23, 2020 document by the Western Mass Rail Coalition, “The Key Elements of an East-West Rail Service,” sent to members of the East-West Rail Advisory Committee and to MassDOT’s East-West Rail Study Team.

Second page of Feb. 23, 2020 document by the Western Mass Rail Coalition, "The Key Elements of an East-West Rail Service," sent to members of the East-West Rail Advisory Committee and to MassDOT's East-West Rail Study Team. — Second page of Feb. 23, 2020 document by the Western Mass Rail Coalition, “The Key Elements of an East-West Rail Service,” sent to members of the East-West Rail Advisory Committee and to MassDOT’s East-West Rail Study Team.

Ben Hood of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop makes a comment at MassDOT's second public meeting during the East-West Passenger Rail Study, held in Springfield on February 12, 2020. — Ben Hood of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop makes a comment at MassDOT’s second public meeting during the East-West Passenger Rail Study, held in Springfield on February 12, 2020.

2019-2020 The Palmer Rail Steering Committee receives official letters of support for a Palmer station from the following towns and organizations: Amherst Town Council, Amherst Town Manager, Baystate Health Eastern Region, Brookfield Selectmen, Camp Ramah New England, East Quabbin Towns Regional Economic Development Coordinator, Hardwick Planning Board, Monson Selectmen, Quaboag Region Coordinating Council, UMass Amherst Student Government Association, Ware Board of Selectmen, Ware Planning Board, and Western Massachusetts Transportation Advocacy Network.

July 23, 2019 photo of advocates from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, the Chester Railway Station & Museum, The Train Campaign, and Trains in the Valley, at a meeting of the Western Mass Rail Coalition in Springfield, following MassDOT's second public meeting during the East-West Passenger Rail Study. — July 23, 2019 photo of advocates from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, the Chester Railway Station & Museum, The Train Campaign, and Trains in the Valley, at a meeting of the Western Mass Rail Coalition in Springfield, following MassDOT’s second public meeting during the East-West Passenger Rail Study.

First page of June 7, 2019 comment by Ben Hood of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to Gov. Baker (and separately to MassDOT) concerning his administration's failure to include funding for expanded passenger rail in MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan. — First page of June 7, 2019 comment by Ben Hood of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to Gov. Baker (and separately to MassDOT) concerning his administration’s failure to include funding for expanded passenger rail in MassDOT’s Capital Investment Plan.

Second page of June 7, 2019 comment by Ben Hood of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to Gov. Baker (and separately to MassDOT) concerning his administration's failure to include funding for expanded passenger rail in MassDOT's Capital Investment Plan. — Second page of June 7, 2019 comment by Ben Hood of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to Gov. Baker (and separately to MassDOT) concerning his administration’s failure to include funding for expanded passenger rail in MassDOT’s Capital Investment Plan.

First page of March 18, 2019 opinion piece by Western Massachusetts rail advocates, responding with concern to the East-West Passenger Rail Study project team's proposed alternative utilizing express bus service, rather than passenger rail, as presented at the first public meeting on March 12. In their opinion piece the advocates also proposed "formation of a Western Mass Rail Coalition to create the united front necessary to ensure that MassDOT understands the needs of our large region of the Commonwealth." — First page of March 18, 2019 opinion piece by Western Massachusetts rail advocates, responding with concern to the East-West Passenger Rail Study project team’s proposed alternative utilizing express bus service, rather than passenger rail, as presented at the first public meeting on March 12. In their opinion piece the advocates also proposed “formation of a Western Mass Rail Coalition to create the united front necessary to ensure that MassDOT understands the needs of our large region of the Commonwealth.”

Second page of March 18, 2019 opinion piece by Western Massachusetts rail advocates, responding with concern to the East-West Passenger Rail Study project team's proposed alternative utilizing express bus service, rather than passenger rail, as presented at the first public meeting on March 12. In their opinion piece the advocates also proposed "formation of a Western Mass Rail Coalition to create the united front necessary to ensure that MassDOT understands the needs of our large region of the Commonwealth." — Second page of March 18, 2019 opinion piece by Western Massachusetts rail advocates, responding with concern to the East-West Passenger Rail Study project team’s proposed alternative utilizing express bus service, rather than passenger rail, as presented at the first public meeting on March 12. In their opinion piece the advocates also proposed “formation of a Western Mass Rail Coalition to create the united front necessary to ensure that MassDOT understands the needs of our large region of the Commonwealth.”

Photo of Rob Gromosky and Heidi Bara, members of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, speaking with Drew Galloway, Consultant Team Project Manager, at MassDOT's first public meeting during the East-West Passenger Rail Study, held in Springfield on March 12, 2019. — Photo of Rob Gromosky and Heidi Bara, members of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, speaking with Drew Galloway, Consultant Team Project Manager, at MassDOT’s first public meeting during the East-West Passenger Rail Study, held in Springfield on March 12, 2019.

2019 The Palmer Rail Steering Committee formally requests the town fund an economic development study. The town hires UMass Amherst Center for Economic Development to produce The Case for Palmer, at a cost of $20K.

2019 The Palmer Rail Steering Committee begins meeting.

2018 Ben Hood creates the Western Mass Rail Coalition, a union of rail advocacy groups that includes Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop and Trains in the Valley, among others.

2018 MassDOT’s East-West Passenger Rail Study commences after state Sen. Eric Lesser convinces the legislature and Governor Charlie Baker to reexamine expansion of passenger rail across Western Massachusetts, this time including service to Pittsfield. Palmer Town Planner and Economic Development Director Linda Leduc is appointed to the Study Advisory Committee. The Committee also includes state Rep. Todd Smola.

"Time to bring tracks together," a Palmer Journal Register editorial published on Dec. 6, 2018, stating the need for the town to develop a transit-oriented development plan in order to make a strong case to state and federal officials for a Palmer passenger rail stop. — “Time to bring tracks together,” a Palmer Journal Register editorial published on Dec. 6, 2018, stating the need for the town to develop a transit-oriented development plan in order to make a strong case to state and federal officials for a Palmer passenger rail stop.

2018 Ben Hood and Anne Miller, as co-founders of the Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, make a presentation to Palmer Town Council, again requesting the town fund a study, and also set up a Palmer Rail Steering Committee. They suggest the composition of the Committee include two council members, a representative of the Lamothe family, and ten others. The town rejects funding a study, but does set up the committee as requested.

Feb. 27, 2018 comment by Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, sent to Jennifer Slesinger of MassDOT, regarding the need to make East-West passenger rail and a Palmer Station Tier 1 priorities in the Massachusetts State Rail Plan.

2017 The Palmer Redevelopment Authority (PRA) hires Fuss & O’Neill to produce the Palmer Transit Oriented Development Draft Conceptual Downtown Plan, at a cost of $10K. This plan is cited in several later plans.

First page of April 6, 2017 article in the Palmer Journal Register, describing efforts by Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to encourage the town to commission a downtown master plan in order to "help preserve some of the historic and architectural elements of the downtown... We'd like to see a pedestrian-friendly environment that would incorporate a train station." — First page of April 6, 2017 article in the Palmer Journal Register, describing efforts by Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to encourage the town to commission a downtown master plan in order to “help preserve some of the historic and architectural elements of the downtown… We’d like to see a pedestrian-friendly environment that would incorporate a train station.”

Second page of April 6, 2017 article in the Palmer Journal Register, describing efforts by Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to encourage the town to commission a downtown master plan in order to "help preserve some of the historic and architectural elements of the downtown... We'd like to see a pedestrian-friendly environment that would incorporate a train station." — Second page of April 6, 2017 article in the Palmer Journal Register, describing efforts by Anne Miller of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to encourage the town to commission a downtown master plan in order to “help preserve some of the historic and architectural elements of the downtown… We’d like to see a pedestrian-friendly environment that would incorporate a train station.”

2017 Anne Miller appears before the Town Council, proposing the town fund a transit-oriented development study of the area around the Palmer rail diamond, at the junction of the east-west and north-south rail lines. The Council asks the town manager to request that the Palmer Redevelopment Authority fund the plan instead.

First page of Feb. 5, 2017 letter from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to Palmer Town Council, requesting that the town create a downtown plan to preserve the remaining historic elements of Depot Village, and to include planning for a future passenger rail stop.

Second page of Feb. 5, 2017 letter from Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop to Palmer Town Council, requesting that the town create a downtown plan to preserve the remaining historic elements of Depot Village, and to include planning for a future passenger rail stop.

Flyer for "Down on Main Street: Planning Palmer's Future," a presentation at the Palmer Public Library on October 4, 2016, featuring Dana Roscoe, Principal Planner at the PVPC, Economic Development Consultant Patrick McMahon, and Chris Ferrero, Vice-President at Fuss & O'Neill, discussing planning issues related to the proposed Palmer passenger rail stop. — Flyer for “Down on Main Street: Planning Palmer’s Future,” a presentation at the Palmer Public Library on October 4, 2016, featuring Dana Roscoe, Principal Planner at the PVPC, Economic Development Consultant Patrick McMahon, and Chris Ferrero, Vice-President at Fuss & O’Neill, discussing planning issues related to the proposed Palmer passenger rail stop.

Anthony Allard of Monson staffs the Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop table at Celebrate Palmer on August 20, 2016, sharing information about the proposed Palmer passenger rail stop.

2016 The NNEIRI study concludes, having developed a preferred build alternative which would have run 8 round-trip trains per day between Boston and New Haven, all stopping at a new station in Palmer. The study evaluates three possible sites for a Palmer station, including the historic station location. The Federal Railroad Administration found that no significant environmental impacts would result from implementation of the NNEIRI plans.

"Restore Passenger Rail Service to Palmer!" Flyer from 2015 encouraging people to sign the Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop change.org and paper petitions, the latter available at many businesses in Palmer and Monson as listed on the flyer. — “Restore Passenger Rail Service to Palmer!” Flyer from 2015 encouraging people to sign the Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop change.org and paper petitions, the latter available at many businesses in Palmer and Monson as listed on the flyer.

2015 Ben Hood and Anne Miller form Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop, an all-volunteer organization which initially works with members of the earlier Central Corridor Coalition, and also brings in new activists energized by the NNEIRI proposal for a Palmer station. Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop has organized petition drives, held informational meetings, done presentations, organized letter writing campaigns and attendance at state meetings, tabled at events in the region, and written articles and editorials. The group’s most active members are from Palmer, Ware, Monson, Brimfield and Amherst.

Flyer advertising "Palmer Station: Restoration of Passenger Rail" presentation, featuring Senators Eric Lesser and Anne Gobi, and Palmer business owner John McElduff, held at the Palmer Public Library on Oct. 28, 2015. — Flyer advertising “Palmer Station: Restoration of Passenger Rail” presentation, featuring Senators Eric Lesser and Anne Gobi, and Palmer business owner John McElduff, held at the Palmer Public Library on Oct. 28, 2015.

2015 Ben Hood, Director of the Palmer Public Library, holds a public forum on the NNEIRI study and possible restoration of passenger rail service to Palmer. The forum is attended by over 100 members of the public; state Senators Gobi and Lesser are among the speakers.

2015 The multi-state Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative study begins holding public meetings on the restoration of passenger rail between Boston and New Haven (via Springfield) and between Boston and Montreal (via Springfield). Palmer is mentioned in study documents as a possible future station site.

2012 A private train takes fifty business and college representatives and politicians on a trial run along the Central Corridor Line, ending with an event at the Steaming Tender covered by local media.

2011 The Central Corridor Rail Coalition and the Palmer Rail Coalition are formed, with overlapping membership. Their goal is the restoration of the Central Corridor Line from St. Albans, VT to New London, CT (via Amherst and Palmer). Blake Lamothe is the Chair of the “Central Corridor Rail Retail Coalition.”

1987 Palmer’s historic Union Station bought by the Lamothes. It becomes the Steaming Tender Restaurant in 2004.

1971 Passenger rail service to Palmer discontinued.