PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES RETURN OF RAIL SERVICE FROM BOSTON TO CAPE COD

BOSTON – Today, MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey and MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott were joined by US Senator Elizabeth Warren to announce the new schedule of rail service from Boston to Cape Cod this summer. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA), in cooperation with MassDOT, will operate summer seasonal service from Boston South Station to Hyannis on Cape Cod beginning Memorial Day, Friday, May 24 through Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2013.

“Bringing back seasonal rail service from Boston to Hyannis will help make it easier for visitors to travel to the Cape and support Massachusetts’ tourism industry,” said Senator Warren. “This is a great example of how investments in transportation and infrastructure can strengthen our economy.”

Reducing the traffic congestion from Boston to Cape Cod on summer weekends will not only reduce negative environmental impacts but will also open up one of the Commonwealth’s key tourism destinations to even more people, providing the region with the opportunity for a greater influx of tourist dollars into the local economy. Inbound traffic over the Sagamore and Bourne bridges on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during July and August of last year averaged 230,000 vehicles on a typical summer weekend and 255,000 on the July 4th weekend. Diverting just 1 percent of these weekend trips would result in at least 2,300 riders per weekend or 29,900 riders over 13 weekends.

“The reintroduction of rail service to Cape Cod during the summer will not only give visitors a more relaxing, enjoyable journey but is a project focused on smart economic development and MassDOT’s GreenDOT goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting healthy transportation options for the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Davey.

The trip from South Station to Hyannis will include a specially outfitted coach that will not only provide customers with a traffic-free trip but will include on-board concession and refreshment service, including beer and wine sales after the stop in Middleboro.

“Our goals at MassDOT and the MBTA are not just about getting people where they want to go, it’s about getting people where they want to go faster and more efficiently,” said MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott. “Working closely with our partners in the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, we are thrilled to be bringing rail service back to Cape Cod to help more people experience the beauty of the Cape and enjoy their summer weekends more.”

As part of a survey last summer by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, over 65 percent of respondents were likely or very likely to take the service (approximately 1,000 respondents – 75 percent of Total Respondents were not current MBTA customers). The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau expect the service to have strong appeal to tourists, especially international visitors.

"The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority is very happy to partner with the Patrick-Murray Administration to bring seasonal train service back to Cape Cod from Boston for the first time in over 50 years,” said CCRTA Administrator Thomas Cahir. “This is a great opportunity to bring more visitors to the Cape and Islands for a car-free experience to enjoy our beaches, restaurants and other attractions that make this region a prime vacation destination."

Schedule
Friday night, the 5:12pm MBTA Commuter Rail train on the Middleboro/Lakeville line will make its regular stops and then continue beyond Middleboro to Buzzards Bay, over the Cape Cod Canal Bridge and on to Hyannis. The train will arrive in Hyannis by 7:50pm. This train will then return to Boston, leaving Hyannis at 8:30pm and arriving in Boston at 10:45pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the train will leave South Station at 8:00am and stop in Braintree, Middleboro, Buzzards Bay and arrive in Hyannis at 10:18am.On Saturdays and Sundays, the train will leave Hyannis at 6:30pm and return to Boston at 8:45pm.

Connection options upon arrival to the Cape
Hyannis is a transfer point for Cape-wide bus services run by CCRTA and by P&B Bus Lines.
The ferry docks in Hyannis are reachable by a short, free shuttle bus trip, a walk, or a quick bike ride and there is coordination with the island ferries (Hyline and Steamship Authority) to provide rail to ferry connections to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
There will be space for over 30 bikes on the train from South Station to Hyannis to use on the bike trails along the Cape Cod Canal and in the Mid-Cape area. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority is in the process of installing over 300 virtual connecting Bike Route signs Cape-Wide to get you from trail to trail. In addition, rental cars will be available at the Hyannis Intermodal Center.
This summer, there will also be a free downtown Hyannis shuttle-bus provided by the CCRTA. Customers who want to stay longer or whose travel plans change are encouraged to catch one of the frequent P&B buses that travel from the Cape to South Station.

Fares
Fares are market rate and consistent with the comparable intercity bus fares; the trip from South Station to Hyannis is $20 one-way and $35 round trip.
Customers will be able to buy tickets on-board the train or on their Smartphone via the MBTA’s “mTicket” mobile ticketing app for Commuter Rail.
For more information, visit www.capeflyer.com