Pedestrian bridge to new rail station in New Bedford gets City Council OK

Frank Mulligan, Standard-Times
·2 min read

NEW BEDFORD - A new $21 million pedestrian bridge providing a walkway over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station got a green light from the City Council Thursday night.

Saying it will become a "new city landmark of which we can all be proud," Mayor Jon Mitchell had asked the council to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the city for the bridge.

The deal came after more than a year of negotiations with the MBTA, and the city will not have to pay for any of the construction costs, according to a press release. The MBTA also agreed to design and build the bridge according to the city’s preferences. Construction is anticipated to begin this summer.

Councilor Brian Gomes had wanted to refer the request to a special committee before approval, saying there were some questions to be asked, including on maintenance costs and long-term security issues. He added that he was in favor of accepting the bridge but wanted the additional session first.

A new $21 million pedestrian bridge providing a walkway over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station got a green light from the City Council Thursday night.
A new $21 million pedestrian bridge providing a walkway over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station got a green light from the City Council Thursday night.

Council President Linda Morad said it would have to got to a special council meeting that could be set for Feb. 1. There is a Feb. 8 deadline on the memorandum of agreement with the MBTA.

Councilor Ryan Pereira said he preferred the board act immediately, noting the $21 million job was being paid for by the state. He added the city has to pay for the upkeep of state property in any event.

The motion to refer the request to the special council session failed in a 5-5 vote. The motion to OK the request was then passed in a 6-4 vote.

Rendition of the pedestrian bridge over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station.
Rendition of the pedestrian bridge over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station.

Two new stations will be opening in New Bedford as part of the South Coast Rail project, the Church Street Station at 387 Church St. will be the second to last stop with the New Bedford Station on Acushnet Avenue in the Whale’s Tooth parking lot the final stop on the New Bedford Main Line, which will be serviced by the bridge.MBTA officials say the line will provide a "one-seat trip" to Boston in less than 90 minutes. Passenger service is expected to begin late this year.

Rendition of the pedestrian bridge over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station.
Rendition of the pedestrian bridge over John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Purchase Street and the new downtown MBTA station.

The council also voted Thursday to refer to committee a request by Mitchell that the city solicitor be allowed to obtain appraisals and prepare an order of taking for land located on County Street, from Nelson Street to Union Street, for the purpose of "acquiring permanent and temporary easements for roadway paving, sidewalk reconstruction with new pedestrian ramps, new pavement markings, traffic signal upgrades, tree plantings and new green infrastructure areas." It's needed to facilitate a road reconstruction project on that stretch by the city Department of Public Infrastructure and the Mass. Dept. of Transportation with federal aid funds.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford City Council OKs deal for walkway bridge to MBTA station