Rebuilding New England & Revitalizing Rail at the Compass.
OUR MISSION
The Central Corridor Passenger Rail Coalition is dedicated to delivering safe, comfortable, and reliable transportation services to the people of Central New England. Spanning from New London Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and an international connection to Montreal, Quebec the proposed Central Corridor Passenger Rail will restore vital rail services through the heart of New England, unlocking economic growth, expanding housing opportunities, increasing the tax base, and revitalizing communities in need.
By connecting job seekers and those in search of affordable housing to New England’s economic centers, this rail service will provide essential transportation for the workforce needed in cities like Boston, while also reducing traffic congestion and making better use of workforce housing in areas beyond major urban hubs.
At the core of this transformative initiative is Palmer, Massachusetts, a historic crossroads where North-South and East-West rail routes converge. With existing passenger rail infrastructure in place, at the historic Palmer Union Station, Palmer stands ready to serve as the pivotal connector, ensuring a seamless, efficient, and forward-thinking transportation network for the region.
PROJECT UPDATES:
Our goal is to keep the public updated on this initiative as frequently as possible, so please check back again soon!
PRESS
BOARD MEMBERS
Larry Shaffer
President
As President of the Central Corridor Passenger Rail Coalition (CCPRC), Larry is dedicated to restoring passenger rail service and fostering economic development in the communities of western New England. This commitment is reflected in CCPRC’s ongoing efforts to reinstate passenger rail service from Brattleboro, Vermont, to New London, Connecticut, creating vital connections to Boston, Montreal, and ultimately, New York City. With an east-west connection in Palmer, Massachusetts, the Central Corridor serves as a key link between major public educational institutions, UMass Amherst and UConn, Storrs, and the broader north-south region.
With 43 years of experience in local government management, including 24 years as a chief executive officer for multiple cities and towns, Larry has played a pivotal role in advancing rail infrastructure and economic development. As Assistant City Manager in Keene, New Hampshire, he facilitated the acquisition of the former Boston and Maine railyard for economic development in 1994. While serving as Town Administrator in Durham, New Hampshire, he led the effort to bring the Downeaster rail stop to Durham on the University of New Hampshire campus in 1997. As Town Manager in Amherst, Massachusetts, he advocated for retaining the Amtrak rail stop that connected the University of Massachusetts to Boston, New York City, and Montreal. Additionally, he has held leadership roles as Town Administrator in Vernon, Connecticut, and City Manager in both Jackson and Portage, Michigan. Throughout his career, he has overseen local government organizations with over 400 employees and annual budgets exceeding $100 million.
A strong advocate for passenger rail, Larry has a long history of collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies to achieve shared transportation goals. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Trainriders/Northeast, the nonprofit organization that pioneered the Downeaster passenger rail service.
Committed to bringing passenger rail services back to central New England, Larry looks forward to working alongside colleagues and partners to make this vision a reality.
John McEldfuff
Civil Engineer
Blake Lamothe
Vice President, Treasurer
Joe Turek
Joe brings deep engineering, strategic, and business experience working with private and public companies (foreign and domestic), as well in several government leadership positions. CEO of Akcess BioMetrics, Biometrics 2000, Amica, International Electronics, American Industries, Yaroke USA and MassEnergy H2. Chair of the biometrics technology group in DARPA under NASA. Project Manager of Communications for LEM, Project Manager of vibration analysis for the high-speed train, and Project Manager for the electronic jet engine fuel control test system – all for United Technology. Director of the International Security Group and Chair of the Biometrics Industry Group. Degrees in MSEE, BSEE and BSME
Scarlet Lamothe
Public Relations
Interned for Senator Eric Lesser during the East-West Rail initiative and member of the Palmer Rail Steering Committee. A writer and spokesperson for the advocacy and economic redevelopment of returning passenger rail service back to the commonwealth and regional area.
Linea Lamothe
Marketing/Social Media
GET INVOLVED
There are four ways you can get involved to bring the passenger rail to Palmer’s Union Station.
Write Letters
Please consider writing a letter to your Federal and State Representative!
The Honorable Sean Duffy
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
Secretary of Transportation
Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160
Boston, MA 02116
Sign Up for Email Updates
Add your name and email to our list to be notified of upcoming events and meetings.
Spread Awareness
You can print out these flyers and use them to raise awareness about this project.