Parking At Walpole Station Increased By More Than 50%

Parking availability at the Walpole Commuter Rail Station was increased by more than 50% today when state and local officials formally opened 200 new parking spaces adjacent to the station. At a ribbon cutting ceremony at the station on the Franklin/Forge Park Commuter Rail Line, local elected officials joined Secretary of Transportation John Cogliano and MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas. In addition to increasing the total number of commuter parking spaces to 580, the MBTA improved lighting, drainage, landscaping, and signage in and around the parking facility. The total cost of the project, including land acquisition, was $2 million. The MBTA received grant money from the Federal Transit Administration covering 80% of the project’s cost. “By making commuter rail service in Walpole more accessible, we make it a more attractive transportation alternative,” said Secretary Cogliano, who also serves as the Chairman of the MBTA Board of Directors. “This parking expansion will foster more ridership, and consequently, more revenue for the MBTA to undertake further parking expansions and other improvements. This is truly a win-win situation.” “By adding more than 20,000 parking spaces in the past 15 years, the MBTA has brought the total number of Commuter Rail parking spaces to 37, 246,” said General Manager Grabauskas. “Those spaces, when occupied, represent the tens of thousands of vehicles the MBTA is taking off the roads and highways. The air quality benefits are absolutely immense.” Joining Secretary Cogliano and General Manager Grabauskas at the ribbon cutting were State Senator James Timilty of Walpole, State Representative Richard Ross of Wrentham, and Walpole Selectman Joseph Deneen. Walpole Station is one of five Commuter Rail stations where parking availability is being expanded this year. The others are Gloucester, Lawrence, Westboro, and Fitchburg where 470 new parking spaces opened just last month.