Westborough Looks To Fix Lack Of Commuter Rail Parking

WESTBOROUGH, MA—Westborough's commuter rail parking issue came back as one of the three worst situations in the state, according to an analysis by the MBTA.

According to Rep. Hannah Kane, R-Shrewsbury, who met with the MBTA, town manager Jim Malloy and the MassDOT recently to tour the lot and discuss the challenges, Westborough joined Southborough and West Natick as the three stops with the biggest parking issues on the Framingham-Westborough line.

Kane joined other legislative delegates for the town as part of an update to the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue, indicating that she had followed through with complaints she has been receiving, and specifically at the last Board of Selectmen meeting she attended.

"We sent a letter to MBTA and we did have a meeting with them," said Kane. "What we asked them to do is look at the line as a whole and look at access locations with the greatest parking challenges. The MBTA has about a 6 to 7 billion dollar backlog in repairs at any time, and they are making sure they are keeping up their core facilities so they can expand. Our conversation focused on what opportunities there are."

One opportunity is for the town to purchase property that sits across the street from the rail that would hold about 200 more parking spots. Currently, Westborough has 448 commuter rail parking spots.

"We are landlocked from expanding from existing lot," said Kane, "and we are hoping to move forward and having a broader discussion."

Kane said a short-term option may be to add spots along Smith Parkway, using the revenue to build up a reservoir for updates on the rail location.

"It's an option we're all excited about and it doesn't have enormous hurdles," said Kane.

Patch file photo