September 09, 2016

Lynch, Warren, Markey Announce $4.2 Million in Grant Funding for Quincy Center MBTA Station

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) announced that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will receive $4.2 million in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Grant Program. The MBTA will utilize this grant funding to help build a new Quincy Center bus terminal and make intermodal enhancements.

Earlier this year, Congressman Lynch and Senators Warren and Markey strongly endorsed the MBTA and the City of Quincy's joint grant proposal and urged Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to support this important development plan. The $4,273,771 grant will be used to help transform the Quincy Center Intermodal MBTA Station. The funding will provide an important first step toward a new bus terminal - and the larger redevelopment of the entire MBTA station - that will link with the Red Line subway, the commuter rail, and the National Park Service shuttle buses. The Quincy Center MBTA station and bus terminal is within walking distance of City Hall, the Adams National Park, Quincy College, and residential and commercial developments.
The MBTA, state officials, and the City of Quincy continue to develop long-term plans for the station, including a new parking garage and the potential for a transit-oriented development on the MBTA property.

"I applaud Mayor Koch, Governor Baker, Secretary Pollack, and their teams for their close collaboration on the redevelopment plan for the Quincy Center Station. The City of Quincy and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are committed to ensuring that Quincy remains a hub for transportation throughout the South Shore. By investing in a new bus terminal, we will not only improve safety and reliability for South Shore residents, but also continue to spur investment to revitalize Quincy Center. I am proud to have worked with our congressional delegation to ensure that the Department of Transportation recognized the value of this federal investment in Quincy," said Congressman Lynch.

"This federal transportation grant is terrific news for Quincy and for the region. The new Quincy Center Bus Terminal will improve families' transit options and help revitalize the area," Senator Warren said. "I'm committed to making sure the federal government is a good partner for our cities and towns in Massachusetts, and that means supporting key infrastructure investments like this project. I was glad to work with state officials, the City of Quincy, and the congressional delegation to get this funding."

"Whether by train or by bus, when passengers arrive at the Quincy Center Station, they deserve a welcoming mat worthy of the great City of Quincy. With this grant, Quincy and the MBTA can begin creating a truly world class bus terminal that improves safety and reliability while spurring private investment. I thank Congressman Lynch and Secretary Pollack for their leadership in helping secure this critical federal funding," said Senator Markey.

"The Quincy Center MBTA Station is a cornerstone to the much broader revitalization of our downtown now underway, and this grant is a vital initial step toward a vibrant new transportation hub at the heart of our City. I am tremendously grateful for the team of leaders whose work together made this possible, from Congressman Lynch and Senators Markey and Warren to Governor Baker and Secretary Pollack," said Quincy Mayor Tom Koch.

Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack said "The Baker-Polito Administration is very grateful to the Federal Transit Administration for its recognition of the importance and benefits of the Quincy Center Intermodal MBTA Station project. This grant will help us and our partners in Quincy jump-start the redevelopment of the station and air rights. Mayor Koch and our congressional delegation are to be commended for their advocacy for the grant and the project as a whole. We are proud to have worked with them and look forward to the continued partnership as we plan, fund and construct the full project."

In 2015, Congress passed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which authorized the Federal Transit Administration's competitive Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program through 2020. The FAST Act provided an 89% increase in funding for buses and bus facilities, in addition to targeted competitive grants. For Fiscal Year 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded nearly $211 million in grants to improve bus service nationwide.

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