East-West rail study coming soon
The Department of Transportation now expects its study on a rail link connecting Boston to the Springfield and Pittsfield areas to be completed in spring of 2020, later than its initial plan as staff work through environmental impacts and costs of possible strategies.
In April, a MassDOT spokesperson said the study would be completed by winter 2020, but by July that target had changed to spring 2020. The department is currently exploring six alternatives for an expanded rail network, but will narrow the list down to three as it drafts recommendations.
No cost estimates are available yet for the project. MassDOT in July presented an advisory committee with initial sketches of what potential routes could look like — all using Worcester as the hub from which MBTA commuter rail would extend westward — and what some of the key challenges could be.
Sen. Eric Lesser, a member of the East-West Passenger Rail Study Advisory Committee, told the News Service he's been "assured repeatedly" by Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack the study will be done by the spring. Any delay beyond that, he said, "is certainly not going to be tolerated."
"All eyes are going to be on this wind-up period in early 2020 as the study approaches completion," said Lesser (D-Longmeadow), pointing to the extension's benefits for housing access, economic growth and greenhouse gas reduction. "The idea of an 80-minute ride from Springfield to Boston would completely transform the state."
The study's latest timeline means the study will be released after planned House in early 2020 on a bill intended to increase transportation revenues. -
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