Commuter Rail Train Station Opening In Pawtucket This Month

PAWTUCKET, RI — The new train station for Pawtucket-Central Falls will open Jan. 23, connecting the cities to Providence, Boston, and more via commuter rail, Gov. Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Depart of Transportation (RIDOT), the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) said in a joint statement.

State officials said the new station would allow riders to easily switch between RIPTA buses and MBTA trains while mitigating traffic congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

"This new station will not only add to the quality of life in Pawtucket and the Blackstone Valley, but it will also dramatically expand transit options for Rhode Islanders and those visiting Rhode Island," McKee said in a statement. "With easy connections to and from Boston — the opening of this station continues our momentum, breathing new life into Pawtucket and Central Falls."

This additional commuter rail station in Rhode Island will supplement three other stations (Providence, T.F. Green and Wickford Junction) serviced by the MBTA, with numerous stops in Massachusetts on the route to South Station in Boston. The MBTA will make 40 weekday and 18 weekend stops at the new Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center.

In addition to the rail service, the new bus hub built next to the train station will serve bus commuters in the Pawtucket, Central Falls, and greater Blackstone Valley area with RIPTA's 1, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 80, QX and the R-Line stopping at the transit center starting on Jan.23.

"The opportunities this transit hub will create for Pawtucket and Central Falls are bountiful," Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebian said. "It will truly show that our two cities are desirable places to live, work, and play."

Adjacent to the station, RIDOT will operate a 200-car parking lot, and RIPTA will operate restroom facilities. Radar-enhanced pedestrian detection crosswalks link the parking lot, bus hub, and train station.