MBTA Bascule Drawbridge 1

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail Rockport Line is the main public transportation line for commuters and tourists on Cape Ann. It is, therefore, a key economic asset for the entire region. The tracks are constructed on an elevated berm that passes across the mouth of Manchester’s Inner Harbor, in front of the downtown area.¹

The MBTA Bascule bridge is a bascule drawbridge that may be lifted to allow boats access to Manchester-by-the-Sea’s Inner Harbor. The bridge is just six feet above the high tide water level, and 15 feet at low tide. The harbor includes a marina and various piers as well as Manchester’s public boat ramp in the heart of the Town’s commercial district. The bridge and rail line are located within the FEMA AE Special Flood Hazard layer.²The tracks and bridge are vulnerable to nor’easters, severe winter weather, coastal flooding, severe wind, coastal erosion, earthquakes, sea level rise, storm surge, tsunamis, and severe weather, all of which can impact service.^{3 4}

The tracks and bridge are owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as part of the MBTA. Any climate change coordination measures must be undertaken with cooperation between the MBTA and Manchester-by-the-Sea government, which can create barriers to timely action.⁵

During the Great Storm, the salt deposit from the storm surge will — at a minimum — affect service, eliminating a potential evacuation route off Cape Ann and creating dangerous conditions for anyone on the train or in the path of derailed cars. Any storm surge above the high tide level could damage the tracks. Additionally, wave action will erode the berm, which acts as a protective barrier into the Inner Harbor. The berm may also impede drainage from the Inner Harbor due to flooding in the Central Street Pond, increasing the prolonged flood risk across downtown.