OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW SALEM INTERMODAL CENTER

SALEM – The new Salem Intermodal Facility was officially opened today by MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott, Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, Congressman John Tierney and other local officials. The new facility features a 700-car parking garage designed to alleviate capacity issues at the Commuter Rail system’s third busiest stop. It also features bus, bike and Zipcar facilities as well as a new pedestrian walkway to Bridge Street. The garage opened for customers on October 24th, in time for Salem’s Halloween festivities. Work will continue on the project through the winter and spring of 2015.

Salem Station is the third busiest station on the Commuter Rail system with an average of 1,065 boardings per day. Station accessibility along with high commuter volume and need for increased commuter parking capacity were the major catalysts for MassDOT and the MBTA to undertake this project.

The new garage features:

Five levels with 296,750 square feet and 715 parking spaces.
High level accessible Commuter Rail platform with capacity for a nine-car train.
All parking levels are accessible with accessible van parking.
Zipcar amenities
Direct accessible access to the Commuter Rail platform.
Direct accessible access to the City of Salem across a new pedestrian walkway to Bridge Street.
Two stairways
Two elevators
New bus platform area
Designated taxi parking
Snow melting equipment on the roof.
Energy efficient lighting
Electric car parking with charging stations on the first level
Locked “Pedal & Park” bike cage for 94 bikes.
Stabilization of the historic signal tower.
Waterfront park with graphic panels providing information on the historic locomotive roundhouse and turntable removed from the site.
Emergency call boxes and security cameras throughout the facility.
The garage will be staffed 24/7 including a full-time attendant, a full-time manager, two attendants during weekday morning and evening rush hours as well as a maintenance/customer service agent for the overnight shift.

The facility opened to the public on Friday October 24th to support the City of Salem Halloween festivities. Work is continuing on the structure with completion expected by the end of November. The second phase of the raised platform work started Monday October 27th and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The landscaping of the waterfront park will be completed in the spring. This project was designed to allow for future Transit Oriented Development, as the City of Salem owns a site along Bridge Street adjacent to the MBTA site that could be developed.

The total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $44.5 million, through a combination of federal, state, city and MBTA funds.