Montachusett Regional Transit Authority acquires 18.6 acre lot in Westminster Business Park

According to Westminster Business Park LLC, Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) has acquired an 18.6-acre site in Westminster Business Park. MART is constructing a new commuter rail layover facility at the park that will support the planned extension of the Fitchburg commuter rail line. This project will reinstate passenger service in downtown Fitchburg with the new Wachusett Station within close proximity to Rte. 2 and 31 interchange. This ease of access to Rte. 2 is expected to encourage motorists to switch to transit, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions associated with vehicular trips. The project involves construction of a new passenger station and appurtenant facilities, and requires the relocation of train staging functions, as well as upgrades to one of the two existing mainline tracks from the present terminus of the Fitchburg Line to the MBTA layover facility approximately 1.2 miles west of the proposed Wachusett Station in Westminster Business Park. MART will construct six new tracks for train storage and deployment. The close proximity and easy access to the layover facility will increase the line's efficiency. Westminster Business Park is a 250 acre industrial office park located at Depot Rd. and Rte. 2A. Its initial phase includes 1.6 million s/f of industrial space. It was recently designated by the Town of Westminster as a Chapter 43D site, which enables fast-tracking of permits and the availability of economic development grants.