A new transportation hub?

Westerly has a long history as a transportation hub, with its first train station opening in 1837. The current station building was constructed in 1912-1913 as part of a curve straightening project, and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation restored the historic structure in 2000.

Population growth driven in part by Electric Boat hires in Groton CT and Quonset Point RI are increasing demand for commuter service on this stretch of track. For decades, Connecticut has considered expanding its Shore Line East commuter rail to service Westerly. About one third of workers from Westerly commute west to New London County, according to census data.

Now things seem to be in motion, with Amtrak confirming that design for upgrades for Westerly Station — raising the platform — are slated for 2026. There's only one problem: Trains have no place to turn around until reaching Boston or New Haven.

Train station platforms in New England, particularly on commuter rail lines and Amtrak services, are typically 48 inches above the top of the rail. Westerly’s (shown here) is one of the few Amtrak stations on the Northeast Corridor that does not have high-level platforms, which are required for accessible boarding and level with commuter rail and Amtrak cars. 

Photo: David DelPoio/The Providence Journal

Raising the station platform will greatly improve the safety and speed of passenger boarding and deboarding. What about turning around to better (and more efficiently) service the commuter area? Adding a "wye" track can do that. This is a Y-shaped track arrangement consisting of three track segments forming a Y or triangular shape, allowing a train to enter on one leg, reverse direction on another, and exit on the third leg. This is called the Westerly Turning Track Project by Alexander Berardo, Principal Planner for the Town of Coventry RI and one of the major drivers for the entire commuter rail project.

Typical Turning Track design.
This allows trains to exit the main line on one curved track, then back up on the other curved track to the main line, facing the opposite direction. The design is widely used worldwide because it is relatively inexpensive to build.

Source: Wikipedia

RI and CT residents: Make your voice heard for extending Shore Line East!

The RI Division of Statewide Planning has opened the public comment period for its new Long-Range Transportation Plan, “Moving Forward RI 2050.” The deadline is July 11th. The draft plan already calls for the construction of high-level platforms at Westerly Station, which is a prerequisite to extending Shore Line East.

Please send in a comment expressing your support for the Westerly Platform project AND ask Statewide Planning to consider adding another project to the plan: the “Westerly Turning Track” project.

The Eastern CT Rail & Transit Feasibility Study said this turning track would also be a prerequisite to extending Shore Line East because it will create a place for trains to pull over and turn around at the end of the line. (There is nowhere for them to turn right now.) The Study estimated it would only cost $3.2 million.

Statewide Planning does add common-sense projects like this to its plan from time to time, if enough people call for it. You do not have to be a resident of RI to comment on the plan – CT commenters are welcome, too!

Please visit the LRTP Public Comment page to express your support for the Westerly Platform project and ask them to add the Westerly Turning Track project. If both these projects are on the plan, RI will be able to eliminate the only key infrastructure barrier to extending Shore Line East.

You can also read the last story on this topic, which includes links to the entire Long Range Transportation Plan.