2016 -- S 2858

========

LC005454

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE PAWTUCKET AND CENTRAL FALLS COMMUTER

RAIL STATION

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Nesselbush, Doyle, and Conley

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Growing Rhode Island's economy is of paramount importance to the future

vitality and stability of our state; and

     WHEREAS, As a whole, the state is only as strong as the cities and towns within its

borders; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's inner cities and towns are struggling to revitalize and

rebuild, and improvements in transportation infrastructure are urgently needed and are an

essential component in the success of this necessary pursuit; and

     WHEREAS, The proposed Pawtucket & Central Falls Commuter Rail Station is a "Once-

in-a-Generation Opportunity to Catalyze and Grow The Blackstone Valley Economy"; and

     WHEREAS, The proposed commuter rail station would be located on the

Pawtucket/Central Falls line, on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Massachusetts Bay

Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Providence commuter rail line, and would provide tens of

thousands of commuters with a critical transportation link between Rhode Island and neighboring

states and much needed jobs; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, the new station would expand educational opportunities and

leisure activities for Rhode Islanders, would provide hundreds of construction jobs and service

jobs, would increase property values in transit-rich neighborhoods, and would help to alleviate

congestion at the Providence and South Attleboro stations; and

     WHEREAS, Preliminary planning and engineering, as well as environmental review have

been thoroughly vetted by a core team including, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation,

the Federal Transit Authority, and representatives from the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls;

and

     WHEREAS, A multi-year plan, requiring funding for the station site acquisition and

construction, and the necessary design, coordination, regulatory review of the Station Project are

the next steps in building a competitive edge towards financial security and prosperity for our

communities and the citizens of our state; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby strongly supports the Pawtucket & Central Falls Commuter Rail Station

Project; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Mayor of the City of Pawtucket, the Mayor

of the City of Central Falls, and the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

========

LC005454

========

LC005454 - Page 2 of 2