We All Benefit from Commuter Rail, Whether We Ride the Train or Not

Building support

We are an all-volunteer group of concerned citizens, mainly in Western Mass and Connecticut, who want to help bring commuter rail and its many transportation, economic, and environmental benefits to the region. Our supporters include commuters, students, job seekers, community leaders, business owners, policymakers, and rail enthusiasts, among others.

We welcome the input and participation of all interested people and groups. Everyone who attends general meetings can vote on PVACR business, and we strive to make the group’s activities as open and constructive as possible.

To fund our efforts to help bring commuter rail to the region, we rely on contributions from supporters.

We welcome any ideas and help that you can provide.

Raising awareness

Working with policymakers


	I feel that this will be a much needed investment for the City of Springfield to get involved. Please consider this as a source to stay 'green' and bring much needed jobs to our area. -- T.R., Springfield, MA

PVACR Officers

Herb Singleton, Past President

Dave Bartley, Esq., Vice President & Co-Founder

Michael Galvagni, Treasurer

Jen Cosgrove, Communications volunteer

Rebecca Townsend, Past President & Co-Founder


	Lots of people who currently drive to Hartford daily for their work could take the train instead. The train is more relaxing and better for the environment! I currently take Amtrak to New Haven once or twice a week. -- B.L., Springfield, MA


	There is not one single project that will do more to revitalize Springfield. In addition to creating jobs (both construction and service), the rail would open Springfield as a viable housing market for the Rte. 91 corridor. The downtown area of Springfield is a desolate place after 6pm but the rail will lead to hundreds of new apartments or condominiums being built within walking distance of the line, completely transforming the city. -- M.G., Ludlow, MA


	I live in a retirement community in Longmeadow, MA. I am a transplanted, retired attorney from New York who used Metro North commuter rail daily to commute to my former job in lower Manhattan. So, for me, the value of commuter rail is a "no brainer" and, when I read about the petition, I just wanted to do my part to help make it successful. Many of my fellow community residents are Springfield natives and told me that they remember a time when Springfield had regular train and trolley services. Bottom line, as with any community, we frequently disagree on issues. On this issue, however, I found almost near unanimity. We all saw the restoration of rail service to Springfield as essential to any economic revitalization of Springfield. We all want to go "Back to the Future". -- S.E., Longmeadow, MA


	As a private citizen who has been involved with several entrepreneurial, highly-profitable small businesses located in Downtown New Haven, I can testify that for us, having viable train links to Hartford and Springfield would be enormously valuable. My previous employer, an architectural firm, regularly attended events inDowntown Hartford and Downtown Springfield and did business with companies in the Pioneer Valley, but the lack of train service was a major barrier. Personally, I would visit Springfield much more often, as a tourist, if train service were available. The companies I have been and am involved with now would also most likely do more business with companies located in that region. -- M.A., New Haven, CT


	I travel to NY once a week from Springfield and drive to New Haven. I would love to be able to take a train from Springfield! -- K.C., Springfield, MA

Pioneer Valley Advocates for Commuter Rail (PVACR) | www.SpringfieldRail.org | P.O. Box 90845, Springfield, MA 01139