Editing Fall River, Massachusetts (section)

==Transportation==
[[File:Interstate 195, Fall River, MA.jpg|thumb|The [[Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge|Braga Bridge]] and [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|I-195]]|250x250px]]
Fall River has historically been a transportation hub for the South Coast and [[Mount Hope Bay]] areas due to its location along the [[Taunton River]]. In addition to the Fall River Line, Slade's Ferry ran from Fall River to Somerset beginning in the 17th century. In 1875, [[Slade's Ferry Bridge]] was opened, connecting the two cities by trolley (and late by car). A two-tiered steel swing-span bridge, Slade's Ferry Bridge extended over {{convert|1100|ft|m}} from Remington Avenue in Fall River to the intersection of Wilbur Avenue, Riverside Avenue and Brayton Avenue in Somerset. The bridge was in use until 1970, when it was closed and subsequently demolished. The path of the bridge is now roughly marked by twin sets of power lines crossing the river.

In 1903, the state authorized construction of a second bridge, the [[Brightman Street Bridge]], a four lane, {{convert|922|ft|m|adj=on}} long drawbridge ending at its namesake street; the bridge opened in 1908. Closed in 2011 and inaccessible to pedestrians and vehicles, the old span is still partially standing. By the 1980s, structural issues with the Brightman Street Bridge resulted in frequent closures for repair, straining local traffic and forcing motorists to take long detours. By 1983, plans were being made to build a [[Veterans Memorial Bridge (Bristol County, Massachusetts)|new bridge]] {{convert|1500|ft|m}} north of the original, which would directly link with Route 138 in Somerset. Plans were put on hold in 1989 due to Coast Guard concerns. Construction of the new span began in the late 1990s and continued until late 2011. The new bridge, the [[Veterans Memorial Bridge (Bristol County, Massachusetts)|Veterans Memorial Bridge]], was formally dedicated on September 11, 2011.

Construction on the [[Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge]] began in 1959, and the bridge opened to traffic in the spring of 1966. The six-lane [[cantilever bridge|cantilever truss highway bridge]] spans {{convert|1.2|mi|km}} and was constructed in tandem with [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island-Massachusetts)|Interstate 195]]. The bridge is named for Charles M. Braga Jr., who died during [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|the attack on Pearl Harbor]] while aboard the [[USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)|U.S.S. ''Pennsylvania'']]''.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dion|first=Marc Munroe|title=The name on the Braga Bridge is about more than steel and asphalt|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/article/20160411/NEWS/160419566|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=The Herald News, Fall River, MA|language=en}}</ref>

===Road===
[[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|I-195]] is the main east–west artery through the city for motorists. The highway enters Fall River from Somerset via the [[Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge]], continuing through the center of the city to The Narrows and eastwards into Westport. I-195 connects Fall River to [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]] and [[Cape Cod]] to the east and [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] to the west. The highway roughly parallels both the Bay Colony/New Bedford Cape Cod Railroad as well the original path of the Quequechan River. In 1999, a cement ceiling tile fell from the roof of the tunnel beneath Government Center, landing on several cars and causing minor injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=writers |first=Ric Oliveira and Mary Jo Curtis, Standard-Times staff |title=Overpass crumbles |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/1999/03/04/overpass-crumbles/50533574007/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition to I-195, Fall River is served by six other routes, being [[U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts|U.S. 6]], [[Massachusetts Route 138|MA 138]], [[Massachusetts Route 79|MA 79]], [[Massachusetts Route 81|MA 81]], [[Route 177 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|MA 177]], and [[Massachusetts Route 24|MA 24]].

* [[File:US 6.svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts|U.S 6]] - This route enters the city from Somerset via an overlap with MA 138 crossing the Taunton River on the [[Veterans Memorial Bridge (Bristol County, Massachusetts)|Veterans Memorial Bridge]]. After crossing the river, it intersects with MA 79 (West Fall River Expressway) and parallels the highway for a few blocks. At President Avenue. it turns east, splitting from MA 138 and following the avenue until it reaches a circle with Eastern Avenue and Exit 5 of MA 24. It then turns southwards onto Eastern Avenue, which it follows until US 6 reaches Maritime Street, where it turns back east, paralleling I-195 in the Narrows until it reaches Westport.
* [[File:MA Route 24.svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[Massachusetts Route 24|MA 24]] (Fall River Expressway) - This highway enters Fall River from [[Tiverton, Rhode Island|Tiverton]]. (as [[Rhode Island Route 24|RI 24]]) A few exits are contained in the city, including one for MA 81, a brief overlap with I-195, and an interchange with MA 79. It stays in the eastern edge of the city, following the Watuppa Ponds. The highway continues northwards to Freetown, Taunton, and eventually to [[Interstate 93|I-93]]/[[Massachusetts Route 128|MA 128]] and Boston.
* [[File:MA Route 79.svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[Massachusetts Route 79|MA 79]] (Western Fall River Expressway) - This road starts at the intersection with I-195 and MA 138 on the western waterfront nearby Battleship Cove. It continues northwards through the western edge of the city by the river, intersecting with US 6 and then goes up to MA 24 in the northern end of the city, continuing its overlap with the highway until Freetown. Large sections of this highway have been torn down in recent years and have been replaced with avenues and at-grade intersections, including a large portion which closed in 2023.
* [[File:MA Route 81.svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[Massachusetts Route 81|MA 81]] - This route enters the city from Tiverton ([[Rhode Island Route 81|RI 81]]) as well, intersecting with MA 24 not long past the state border. It follows Rhode Island Ave. and Plymouth Ave. until the road intersects with I-195 in downtown Fall River, in which it ends.
* [[File:MA Route 138.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Massachusetts Route 138|MA 138]] - This road enters the city as well from Tiverton, following S. Main St. and then Broadway until approaching I-195. It then overlaps with MA 79 before exiting and crossing with US 6 across the Taunton River into Somerset.
* [[File:MA Route 177.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Route 177 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|MA 177]] - This road passes 300 feet through the city in the very southeastern edge, coming from Tiverton (RI 177) and quickly entering Westport, continuing to [[Massachusetts Route 88|MA 88]] and US 6 in [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]].

===Rail===
[[File:Fall River station platform construction, September 2022.jpg|thumb|[[Fall River station]] platforms undergoing construction in 2022]]

[[Fall River station]] is served by the [[Fall River/New Bedford Line]] of the [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Medeiros |first=Dan |date=March 24, 2025 |title=South Coast Rail is finally running after 34 years. Commuters to Boston ready for Day One |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/2025/03/24/mbta-south-coast-rail-to-fall-river-new-bedford-starts-rolling/82627178007/ |website=The Herald News, Fall River MA}}</ref>

===Bus===
Along with New Bedford, Fall River shares ownership of the [[Southeastern Regional Transit Authority]] (SRTA), a bus network that services both cities, as well as [[Acushnet, Massachusetts|Acushnet]], Dartmouth, [[Fairhaven, Massachusetts|Fairhaven]], Freetown, [[Mattapoisett, Massachusetts|Mattapoisett]], Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SRTA – Southeastern Regional Transit Authority|url=https://www.srtabus.com/|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=www.srtabus.com}}</ref> The twelve fixed-route bus lines that service Fall River depart from the Louis D. Pettine Transportation Center, which opened in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holtzman|first=Michael|title=Officials on hand for dedication of SRTA's new transportation center|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/article/20130622/NEWS/306229596|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=The Herald News, Fall River, MA|language=en}}</ref> Service to Providence, Tiverton, and Newport, Rhode Island is offered by the [[Rhode Island Public Transit Authority]] (RIPTA).<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 22, 2020|title=24L {{!}} Newport/Fall River/Providence|url=https://www.ripta.com/routes/24/|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=RIPTA|language=en-US}}</ref>

Intercity bus service to Boston and [[Hyannis, Massachusetts|Hyannis]] is provided by Peter Pan, with connections available to the company's larger network via transfers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Peter Pan Bus Lines {{!}} Better. Quicker. Safer.|url=https://peterpanbus.com/|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=Peter Pan Bus Lines|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Air===
[[Fall River Municipal Airport]], opened in 1951, served as a [[general aviation]] airport for small planes and commuter flights to [[Cape and islands|the Cape and Islands]] for several decades. By the 1960s, the airport had fallen into a state of relative disrepair. it was closed on February 18, 1996, after the Federal Aviation Administration deemed it unsafe due to its proximity to the city's large landfill. Limited commercial service to the Cape and Islands, as well as general aviation, is available from [[New Bedford Regional Airport]] in nearby New Bedford, Massachusetts. Domestic and international commercial air service is available from [[T.F. Green Airport]], located 13 miles west in [[Warwick, Rhode Island]], and at [[Logan International Airport]], located 45 miles north in [[Boston, Massachusetts]].

===Water===
The Fall River Line Pier, located directly beneath the Braga Bridge, is a major port for commercial fishing<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallriverlinepier.com/commercial-fishing/|title=Commercial Fishing|website=Fall River Line Pier|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref> and cargo shipping, handling imports from and to Cape Verde, the Azores, Brazil, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallriverlinepier.com/shipping/|title=Shipping|website=Fall River Line Pier|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref> A water taxi service began in 2024, connecting the pier to several points throughout the city's waterfront.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://turnto10.com/news/local/fall-river-water-taxi-begins-service-at-citys-waterfront-taunton-river-marina-water-business-memorial-day-arpa-project-boats-pilot-program-may-27-2024|title=Fall River water taxi begins service at city's waterfront|website=NBC|author=Allegra Zamore|date=May 27, 2024|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> The port has also served as port-of-call for cruise ships,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallriverlinepier.com/cruise/|title=Cruise|website=Fall River Line Pier|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref> and formerly served as the terminus for a passenger ferry line connecting to the Rhode Island communities of Newport and Block Island,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blockislandferry.com/schedules-fares/fall-river-hi-speed-schedule|title=Fall River Hi-Speed Schedule|website=Block Island Ferry|access-date=July 23, 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724020909/https://www.blockislandferry.com/schedules-fares/fall-river-hi-speed-schedule|url-status=dead}}</ref> though the service was cancelled in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Winokoor|first=Charles|title=Why the Fall River to Block Island ferry run is canceled for the second season in a row|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2021/06/15/fall-river-block-island-ferry-run-canceled-not-profitable-point-judith-interstate-navigation-newport/7691549002/|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=The Herald News|language=en-US}}</ref> The pier also offers connections to freight rail via the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad.