BELLOWS FALLS — Since January, business owners, volunteers and local officials have worked to turn the historic depot into a hub that will tie together all modes of public transportation.
In addition to his work as acting stationmaster, Gary Fox works as managing director for Destination Bellows Falls, established in January by a group of concerned citizens responding to their perceived need to establish this intermodal hub. They see this measure as a critical part of economic development in the Village.
Destination Bellows Falls organizers say travelers will need to access different forms of transportation - Amtrak, Green Mountain Railways' scenic train rides, Greyhound's bus service, taxi service or bicycles.
Fox, who has extensive background in transportation management and development, has worked as executive director of Connecticut River Transit, an intercity bus line based in Rockingham.
“There isn't another means of public transportation to access points east or west other than Greyhound,” Fox says.
Fox says the group has conducted marketing studies about such centers around the country and they found, not surprisingly, that rundown, ill-lit transportation centers were not successful.
“We want to create an effective, safe, attractive intermodal hub,” Fox says. “Enough lighting, upgrades to structures and continued maintenance are essential to creating a place people can arrive at after dark, and feel safe and comfortable in.”
In a complex and cooperative effort, Vermont Rail leases the Bellows Falls depot to Amtrak, while Destination Bellows Falls has taken over management of the station, and Greyhound now uses the depot as a station stop.
“We just started staffing the station,” Fox added. “We have a young man here 40 hours a week” because “it's important to have someone here at all times to answer people's questions with regard to local transportation and businesses in Bellows Falls.”
Jesse Lafleur, 17, of Bellows Falls, was hired through state workforce grants funded by the Department of Labor. Fox will teach him to use Microsoft Excel to track freight and book bus tickets, and he will answer questions from the public.
The hiring comes just in time for peak travel season. “We are getting about 50 just walk-ins a day right now,” Fox says.
“Staffing is crucial,” Fox adds. “We are still in need of a volunteer during lunch breaks or when errands need to be run [for complete coverage],” Fox noted.
Increased rail traffic
As a result of a federally funded push to increase rail use, since January, the Green Mountain Depot and Intermodal Center has begun taking advantage of increased rail traffic through Bellows Falls along the Vermont corridor.
Track improvements to increase speeds is but the first step in improving freight and passenger service and increasing frequency.
The northeastern United States has the most congested air traffic corridors, and the most congested highways, in the nation.
Advocates say that introducing stronger rail into the transportation mix not only can help reduce this congestion, but also can help communities with economic growth and improve the quality of life.
Their ultimate vision: high-speed, intercity and regional rail services linking Boston and New York City, and Montreal.
Deb Murphy manages passenger service for Vermont Rail System, the umbrella company running the Clarendon and Pittsford Railroad, New York and Ogdensburg Railway, Vermont Railway and Washington County Railroad, in addition to Green Mountain Railroad.
Murphy, who says she stands behind Destination Bellows Falls' goals and efforts personally and professionally, serves as the stationmaster for the White River Junction station.
“We've moved our center of operations [to White River Junction] but I still oversee the Bellows Falls station,” Murphy says.
Even now, from Bellows Falls, all points of the compass nationally can be accessed from the various services clustered at the train station.
“We want people to know that you can get there from here,” Fox says, paraphrasing the old New England aphorism.
In addition, Destination Bellows Falls has applied for various grants and loans to purchase two trolleys to shuttle passengers from the business district to the depot on the Island.
Fox described the capital plan for the town bike paths, and notes that the Agency of Transportation (AOT) is also establishing bike-pedestrian trails throughout the state.
“We have bike racks just outside [the depot], plus all the passenger trains. Greyhound and [Connecticut River Transit] have bike racks on board,” Fox explained.
He says the AOT has long-range plans to increase passenger rail services.
“Right now, we have one northbound and one southbound train a day,” Fox said. “We'd like to see three north and three south a day.”
“There are local people who use the train functionally [now]. One fellow books a ticket once a month to go see his daughter in Massachusetts,” he said. “There's another fellow who travels about every other week to New York for business and back.”
With recent federal funds backing track improvements projected to cut travel time between New York and Bellows Falls by 90 minutes, Fox said he envisions more frequent use of rail for locals and tourists alike.
“We'd like to see triple the number of trains through Bellows Falls,” he said. “Geographically, [the intermodal hub] makes sense.”
Setting the plan in motion
Fox says it is crucial that, for the intermodal hub to be successful, the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce, Bellows Falls Development Alliance and the Economic Development Office of Rockingham continue to work together.
“The area has already developed information kiosks in the Square and bus shelters,” Fox said. “We have the Waypoint and Interpretive Center on the Island nearby the Intermodal center.”
Fox sees all the pieces coming in place slowly and steadily for local development that will tie into a national movement toward mass transportation.
“We just are starting to create the right conditions for a [successful] mass transit Bellows Falls destination, and Federal investments nationally are helping develop the system from the local level,” he said.
“We are partnering with the community groups. With town approval, we have a part to play in this [movement],” Fox says, smiling.
Destination Bellows Falls is also working to launch a historic tours trolley system so visitors who arrive at the Intermodal hub can see the Bellows Falls Historic Downtown and learn about the history of the Village.
Using the transporatation hub, Bellows Falls will be marketed as a destination or connection to points north, east, south or west.
“Anything is possible,” Deb Murphy says. “I've always thought trains and buses to local and rural areas are good for green energy and efficient intermodal options.”
“We need the whole package,” Fox says.