Fall River/New Bedford Commuter Rail (South Coast Rail)

[riptide]

No expansion for New Bedford MBTA station shuttle – at least for this year - The New Bedford Light

A lack of state funding leaves New Bedford’s main train station without a direct connection to downtown.

newbedfordlight.org

For anyone who’s taken a trip down to New Bedford, how did you make your last-mile connection from the station to downtown? Do you tend to agree with the article’s stance that the Whale’s Tooth site is particularly inconvenient, or do you think it’s overstating the issue? Seems like a (reinstated) bike share program could be part of the solution if there is indeed a problem…as would be signage directing people across the pedestrian bridge to use the existing SRTA routes on Purchase Street (not sure why they haven’t done yet?).

 

[Lrfox]

No expansion for New Bedford MBTA station shuttle – at least for this year - The New Bedford Light

A lack of state funding leaves New Bedford’s main train station without a direct connection to downtown.

newbedfordlight.org

For anyone who’s taken a trip down to New Bedford, how did you make your last-mile connection from the station to downtown? Do you tend to agree with the article’s stance that the Whale’s Tooth site is particularly inconvenient, or do you think it’s overstating the issue? Seems like a (reinstated) bike share program could be part of the solution if there is indeed a problem…as would be signage directing people across the pedestrian bridge to use the existing SRTA routes on Purchase Street (not sure why they haven’t done yet?).

I agree with the article's stance. Purely from a distance standpoint, it's not a bad walk. But in terms of the actual experience on the ground, it's not intuitive, nor is it pleasant. The more direct (Acushnet/MacArthur) literally reeks of fish and feels very industrial (not to mention a little nerve wracking if a truck goes by). The pedestrian bridge route is mostly a better pedestrian experience, but it's a bit longer to reach downtown, and longer still to most of the main sights downtown (waterfront, whaling museum, national historic park, etc.). The Route 6 intersection (the "octopus") is notoriously unfriendly to pedestrians and none of the recent revisions have made it much better.

It's not the least walkable half mile in the world, but for an urban connection between a passenger rail station and a historic New England downtown core, it's pretty bad.

Better signage and bikeshares would help. I think an upgrade to the stretch of Macarthur/Acushnet between the station and Pier 3 (Black Whale) including a widened sidewalk or shared bike/pedestrian path, some trees and landscaping, and better lighting would go a long way to improve the connection as well. But the city should be able to put together a group to get consistent shuttle service going. Between SRTA, the National Park Service, the Seastreak and Cuttyhunk ferries, downtown business organizations, local hotels (LaFrance hospitality operates one, bought a second, and has proposed building a third), etc., there should be a way to fund something straightforward between the station and State Pier.

 

[GP40MC]

I wonder if the "proposed" State Pier station would've been affected by the current situation on the pier? Probably! Also, there was/is a clearance issue with the RT6 bridge (Even though the track appears to be undercut years ago).

 

[BACsop]

I agree with the article's stance. Purely from a distance standpoint, it's not a bad walk. But in terms of the actual experience on the ground, it's not intuitive, nor is it pleasant. The more direct (Acushnet/MacArthur) literally reeks of fish and feels very industrial (not to mention a little nerve wracking if a truck goes by). The pedestrian bridge route is mostly a better pedestrian experience, but it's a bit longer to reach downtown, and longer still to most of the main sights downtown (waterfront, whaling museum, national historic park, etc.). The Route 6 intersection (the "octopus") is notoriously unfriendly to pedestrians and none of the recent revisions have made it much better.

It's not the least walkable half mile in the world, but for an urban connection between a passenger rail station and a historic New England downtown core, it's pretty bad.

Better signage and bikeshares would help. I think an upgrade to the stretch of Macarthur/Acushnet between the station and Pier 3 (Black Whale) including a widened sidewalk or shared bike/pedestrian path, some trees and landscaping, and better lighting would go a long way to improve the connection as well. But the city should be able to put together a group to get consistent shuttle service going. Between SRTA, the National Park Service, the Seastreak and Cuttyhunk ferries, downtown business organizations, local hotels (LaFrance hospitality operates one, bought a second, and has proposed building a third), etc., there should be a way to fund something straightforward between the station and State Pier.

Pretty much exactly my thoughts. If I were to take SCR to New Bedford again, I'd be tempted just to call a Lyft if I was headed downtown.