Paolino Charges: Airport Train Station a $267 Million ‘Boondoggle’
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
“It’s a boondoggle,” said Joe Paolino, who served as executive director for the state Economic Development Corporation from 1991 to 1994 and was involved in the construction of the airport. “I think the project is an economic development white elephant. I say this as a former head of economic development. I say this as a former mayor of Providence and I say this as a businessman.”
There is no study of how much economic activity the new facility alone will generate, according to Kevin Dillon, the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, but he said a 2006 study showed the airport pumps $2 billion into the region. “The InterLink is one key piece of infrastructure that can continue to make the airport successful,” he said.
Amtrak Not Going to New Station
An official at the Department of Transportation confirmed that Amtrak would not be stopping at the new $267 million station, known as the InterLink, when it opens on Oct. 27. In the meantime, only MBTA commuter trains will be stopping at InterLink, beginning the week of Thanksgiving. The MBTA will offer service from the airport to Providence and, from there, to Boston, according to Jim Eng, a civil engineer at the DOT.
Dillon said InterLink would help attract European carriers. He said one European-based company, Ryan Air, has already expressed an interest in making transatlantic flights to TF Green and has cited the InterLink as one of the main reasons they would come to Rhode Island. He said domestic carriers already flying into T.F. Green have told him they see a benefit for their customers as well.
But Paolino is skeptical that commuter service alone—with multiple stops between the airport and Boston and no direct route to New York City—would have much appeal to out-of-state travelers. “If we try to sell that idea to out-of-staters when they come in here, they’re going to laugh at us,” Paolino said.
Train More Convenient Than Taxi?
Dillon said the extended rail service would specifically benefit those Rhode Islanders who don’t have cars. An estimated 250 commuters will be using the MBTA every day to get to and from the airport and Providence, according to Eng.
But for far less than $267 million, Paolino says the state could have invested in a shuttle service from the airport to the train station in Providence, spending the money—nearly half of it federal funds—on making improvements to the airport itself. “It’s a lot of money—it’s a lot of investment for very little return,” Paolino said. “I don’t see the economic development benefit. I don’t see how jobs are going to be created because it’s put there.”
More than a Train Station
Dillon countered that the new facility has already drawn economic development. He said a hotel and restaurant have opened up as a result and he said two other hotel developers have expressed an interest in building in the area.
The current executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Keith Stokes, also defended the project. “Anytime there's an opportunity to connect intermodal transit there's economic value,” Stokes said. “The new train station will not only provide greater access to the airport but access to the great restaurants, shops and services along Post Road and in Warwick.”
Dillon pointed out that InterLink is much more than just a train station. The facility will house nine rental car offices and, in the future, have bus service. “People have honed in for whatever reason on the rail component and they seem to be making a judgment on the entire complex solely on the rail component,” Dillon said. “You can’t look at this as a $267 million project and say that was for rail. There are other components.”
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Comments:
Donn Roach
6:39am on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I take a commuter train every day into Boston. This train right here is going to change my life. LOL. Right now, I take a bus from Cranston to Kennedy plaza and walk the rest of the way. At the Providence station there are numerous people like myself up in the wee hours heading into Boston because, ya know, there aren't many jobs for technically skilled people in RI.
This train is going to open up access to Boston jobs for just about every person in RI, and while that's good for this area it's actually not so good for the RI economy as people will contribute to the property tax base, but the income tax suck action could be significant.
Amtrak isn't biting, imo, because they don't believe that people will ride from Boston to Providence to get a cheaper flight. But I'm sure people in the surrounding Boston area will get blitzed by the MBTA talking about how the can easily take Boston or TF Green flights. I have no doubt that people in Mansfield or Sharon will now consider Providence because of this line that runs a lot throughout the day. I think this will have a positive effect on the number of riders on TF Green Flights and that people flying into Boston will consider taking a flight into TF Green and then taking a train (takes about 1.5 hours) from this location into Boston. With the rental car component it also becomes even more attractive as people who would catch flights to Boston can now fly to Providence and drive if they so choose.
This link is all about convenience and it definitely adds convenience to the flyer and the commuter. I'd be very surprised if the post mortem suggests that this is anything like a boondoggle.
William Gamble
8:38am on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The real disgrace here is Joe Paolino himself. The first question is how did Joe happen to get a job as executive director for state economic development Corporation? Gee, didn't have anything to do with political connections specifically with his father one of the largest real estate developers in Providence? The next question is what did Joe Paolino do as executive director for economic development in the state of Rhode Island? Or for that matter as Mayor of Providence? Obviously his vision was so far sighted and long-lasting that Rhode Island is just swimming with jobs.
No, what we are really talking about is Joe Paolino and the rest of the Democratic single party state establishment trying to protect their turf for their patronage
It is obvious that Joe Paolino has never been outside the country or even outside the state. There are few if any major European airports that don't have direct rail connections. TF Green will be the only airport on the eastern seaboard and probably in the entire United States with a direct rail connection. The Europeans and most the world including China are massively investing in high-speed rail because it's cleaner, energy efficient and more efficient in time. The TF Green connector is in just the forefront of this movement.
The only reason why Joe Paolino feels that this is a boondoggle is because he and his friends did not get a cut of the action.
PM Jones
11:14am on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
What @ parking?
Will there be any option other than to use the outrageously priced airport parking facility?
If so, it may be more economical to continue to drive to Attleboro - free parking there.
Pam Thomas
1:58pm on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The emperor has no clothes! Haven't you been asking yourself this question the entire time this was being built: Who is going to use this to get to the airport? If you live in Providence, it's just as easy and not that expensive to take a cab (after all, you have to get to the Providence train station anyway). It's even cheaper to have a friend or relative drive you the 12 minutes to the airport. If you're trying to get to Providence from the airport, it's faster to take a cab, especially if you're on business and somebody else is paying for it. As for Bostonians, they'd come to Green to get a better flight deal, but SW opened up in Logan, and they're the only deal in town. Maybe Rhode Islanders will take it to Logan to fly the cheap Jet Blue, tho not if they have to pay outrageous parking garage fees (take the Peter Pan bus to Logan and parking is free). But isn't it supposed to bring people into the state? I'm with Joe; I don't get it
PM Jones
2:06pm on Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Pam commented @ taxis being quicker and perhaps less expensive to Providence. I don't know what the fare is to Providence, but I recently returned from the airport to East Greenwich & the price was $40 (before tip).
.... And I live just off Route 1.
Edward Rivers
1:23am on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
With all due respect, if I were a former EDC chairman for RI I sure as hell wouldn't advertise it. Who gives a shit what this guy says? Didn't he bulldoze an historically protected building in the middle of the night? Go away.
Steven Musen
4:51pm on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
This station can be justified merely by the fact that it consolidates all of the rental car companies in one place. Patrons of those companies can access Route 95 via the Airport Connector which is almost out the Jefferson Boulevard Entrance of the Parking Garage. By not having to shuttle the cars from their former parking lots to the terminal building it is estimated that 10% of the existing traffic on that section of Post Road in front of the terminal will be eliminated, thus saving on gas use and local air pollution.
The commuter trains will be a great incentive to those persons working at the airport and nearby businesses as well a local residents who want to get to Boston. While the cost of parking may be higher than Attleboro ($4.00 a day), the savings in gasoline and having to fight route 95 traffic through Providence may make it competitive. Next year the train will be extended to Wickford Junction and an additional market from Hillsgrove will be available.
Amtrak can not stop at the Hillsgrove, because the siding (The FRIP or Freight Rail Improvement Project) is not electrified. However,eventual electrication was designed into the building along with reserving a vacant space on the second level of the garage as a waiting room. When the Coronado street bridge over the tracks is replaced it is possible to put in a fourth track under the station and electrify that as well. These things were not done now because it would have cost an additional $50 million at the very least and the state is limited in its resources.
Amtrak will eventually realize that it is missing an important market at Hillsgrove, and having most of the station in place will be a major help in correcting that ommission.
However in the meantime we will benefit from reduced congestion on Post Road and Commuter Rail Service to Providence and Boston.
STEVE MUSEN
Director at Large/Newsletter Editor
Rhode Island Association of Railroad Passengers
Charles Beckers
5:35pm on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Mr. Gamble got it wrong when he asserted that "TF Green will be the only airport on the eastern seaboard...with a direct rail connection." Both Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport have railroad stations. When my return flight from Baltimore to TF Green was cancelled by snow throughout the east, Amtrak got me home to Providence. I had to take a cab to get my car at TF Green; a commuter train would have been cheaper and more convenient, but the TF Green station didn't exist at the time. Better yet, an Amtrak stop at TF Green would have saved me the trip from Providence entirely. Join the Rhode Island Association of Railroad Passengers to urge Amtrak to stop at TF Green.
Charlie Beckers
East Bay Coordinator
Rhode Island Association of Railroad Passengers
http://www.riarp.org