Start-Up Rail and Bus Service Frustrated by RIDOT Bureaucracy
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Vincent Bono is not your average transportation CEO. The former tech executive who is trained as an engineer has been working for the past three-plus years to build one of America’s first modern private passenger rail companies — Boston Surface Rail Company.
He says his biggest challenge is working with Rhode Island bureaucrats.
The first market the company selected to provide service was Rhode Island to Central-Massachusetts and specifically, Woonsocket to Worcester. Bono said it was Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) officials who worked to recruit his company to locate at the historic train depot which was built in 1882.
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“More transportation options for Rhode Island is better,” said Bono, who expects to test the rail service in 2020.
Starting more than three years ago, the company signed a lease with RIDOT to takeover the Woonsocket station.
“DOT recruited us hard to locate to Woonsocket, but since those two people retired, Director [Peter] Alviti has been very difficult and been working to get us out of the Depot,” said Bono.
Bono tells GoLocal that as a result of the deal between RIDOT and Boston Surface Rail, Rhode Islanders have saved over $60,000 in maintenance costs annually and the company has paid $35,000 and is now paid ahead in its rent.
Bono said the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Federal Court in New Hampshire for the sole purpose of protecting the asset the lease.
Legal Battles Between RIDOT and Boston Surface Railroad
Boston Surface and RIDOT have been in legal wranglings for months.
RIDOT issued a statement claiming, “In June of 2019 RIDOT won a judgment of eviction in district court against the Boston Surface Railroad Company (BSRC) concerning the Woonsocket Railroad Depot which RIDOT owns. There were three reasons why RIDOT pursued this action. First, BSRC failed to make its lease payments for over a year. Secondly, RIDOT has plans to use the property for its own purposes. This right is specified in the lease agreement. Finally, RIDOT wanted to make sure that the Polar Express could continue its operations out of the facility.”
“The owner of BSRC, Vincent Bono, appealed the decision to [RI] Superior Court. Before the trial date could be set, Mr. Bono filed for bankruptcy in New Hampshire,” said the RIDOT statement issued to WJAR-10.
The back and forth on the facts by RIDOT and Bono continue.
RIDOT claims, “There have been sub-leases to the property. They were to a massage parlor and a medical office, neither of which was approved per the terms of the lease. RIDOT has had no discussion with Mr. Bono nor did it give approval at any time for him to use the depot for a bus service.”
Bono said Alviti’s comments are simply not true.
“Starting a railroad company is a tremendous undertaking, which indeed takes time. I am proud of the progress we have made since gaining Federal approval for rail service in 2016. We are still on track to begin testing our rail service in late 2020. Even state agencies are not immune from delays, as the Pawtucket Commuter Rail station project demonstrates” said Bono — who is a phone interview pointed to the years of delays and cost overruns RIDOT has experienced in developing the Pawtucket/Central Falls train station.
Bono announced this week that the company is launching a bus service to supplement the train service and the bus service is scheduled to launch early in 2020.
“Bus service and rail go hand in hand – in fact, 22 of the 25 commuter rail agencies, and the nation’s premier passenger railroad, Amtrak, operate thru-way and supporting bus service. The terms of our lease specify that we may operate “commuter rail and ancillary commuter rail services,” under which our motorcoach service falls. We do not need RIDOT's permission to operate this service and it is entirely consistent with our leasehold interests,” said Bono.
“It is untrue that we failed to make lease payments for over a year. In fact, we withheld eight months of lease payments totaling $8,000 for RIDOT’s failure to provide a functioning commercial property. In fact, BSRC spent over $10,000 to correct issues with the heat and air conditioning which did not function for 18 months. We are currently completely up to date on lease payments, and have in fact paid one month in advance. Director Alviti's statement that our Chapter 11 status prevents RIDOT from cashing our checks is incorrect, as any competent attorney can confirm,” added Bono.
“At no point has BSRC indicated that we would interfere with the Polar Express’ ability to operate in the facility,” said Bono.
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