State transportation and environmental officials, along with the U.S. EPA, today celebrated the grand opening of the new Anderson Regional Transportation Center (ARTC) in Woburn. The Massachusetts Port Authority, Massachusetts Highway Department and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority jointly constructed the facility to encourage commuters to leave their cars behind and travel in trains, planes, buses and car- and vanpools.

"Facilities such as this one play a major part in our efforts to encourage people to use more diverse forms of transportation during their commutes," said Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Sullivan. "In addition, not only will the Anderson Regional Transportation Center take cars off the road, it will also give people an opportunity to take advantage of cleaner, affordable and efficient transportation options in and around the Boston area."

The new 34-acre transportation center, on the 250-acre Industri-plex Site houses Massport's Woburn Logan Express bus service, MassHighway's Park and Ride carpool and the MBTA's new commuter rail stop. The transportation center, located near the recently completed exit 37C interchange off Interstate 93, quadruples the parking spaces available to commuters. The Mishawum Station, former home to Logan Express and the MBTA commuter rail, had just 600 parking spaces. The new center will have 2,400, enough to meet projected parking demand through 2015.
"The ARTC provides travelers with an array of convenient transportation options in one location," said Massport Executive Director and CEO. "This facility will allows thousands of people to take the easy way to work or Logan International Airport and leave their cars at home."

The ARTC site had been contaminated by more than 100 years of industrial use and presented significant environmental hurdles to overcome. In 1983, the EPA added the property to the Superfund National Priorities List, making the site eligible for valuable federal funds and supervision of the clean up. In developing a plan to improve the site, the EPA focused on redevelopment of the property and bringing this site back into productive use.

In 1998, construction of protective covers over the contaminated areas was completed and a certification report was prepared for the ARTC property. As a prerequisite to the transportation agencies purchasing the property, EPA approved the ARTC certification report and negotiated a Prospective Purchaser Agreement with the agencies, protecting them from future Superfund liability.

"EPAs Superfund program is about more than cleaning up contaminated sites, it is about getting them back into productive use," said Ira Leighton, Acting Regional Administrator of EPAs New England Office. "The new Anderson RTC and other developments at Industri-plex will bring important environmental and economic benefits to Woburn and to greater Boston, and it serves as a national example of how to revitalize formerly contaminated sites."

The new transportation center creates an inviting, welcoming feel that draws upon the look of historic train stations. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow has been streamlined for the ease of both frequent and occasional users, and passengers will be provided with first-rate amenities and concessions.

Senator Robert Havern, who has led the Anderson Regional Transportation from its inception, said that, "This project exemplifies how economic development, environmental protection and community responsibility really can work together. Weve accomplished innovative, intermodal mass transit, helped clean the fifth worst waste site in the country, and created over 4,000 new jobs. The courage and perseverance of people like Anne Anderson have made this project happen. As Woburn enters the twenty first century, it has pledged to never forget the past and to look to the future with hope, courage, self-respect and promise."

As part of the grand opening, the facility was formally named the Anderson Regional Transportation Center, in memory of Jimmy Anderson. Jimmy Anderson lived in Woburn along with his mother Anne Anderson in the 1970s. He fought a long and courageous battle with leukemia, but eventually lost the battle on January 18, 1981, at the age of 12. Following his death, Anne Anderson initiated the lawsuit which is the subject of the book and movie A Civil Action. She attended the event with family and accepted a plaque commemorating the dedication. A dedication plaque with an image of Jimmy Anderson had been permanently installed inside the building.

The total project cost of the Anderson RTC is $10 million with the transportation agencies splitting it three ways. The MBTA invested an additional $7 million for track improvements.

For more information on the ARTC and the different transportation services available, please call toll-free 1-866-441-PARK.

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