1/17/2013

Passenger Rail Article
MassDOT outlines proposed rail projects in 10-year plan

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) proposed 10-year plan calls for providing $3.2 billion for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and billions more for rail expansion projects across the state, including $1.8 billion for South Coast Rail.

MassDOT unveiled its plan earlier this week. Rail projects in the plan include $1.5 billion for new MBTA Red and Orange line cars; $200 million to overall the newest Red Line cars; $732 million for new Green Line cars and system improvements; and $300 million for upgrades to MBTA power facilities and operations.

The plan also allows for targeted expansion projects across the state, MassDOT officials said in a prepared statement. Those projects would include $1.8 billion for completion of the South Coast Rail Line with diesel-fueled commuter trains to connect Boston to Fall River and New Bedford; $674 million to extend the Green Line from Lechmere Station in Cambridge to College Avenue in Medford; $850 million for the design and construction of the South Station expansion to accommodate South Coast Rail, Amtrak, Worcester-to-Springfield service and future high-speed service to Montreal.

Also, the plan calls for providing $362.4 million for passenger-rail service connecting Boston and Springfield on the Inland Route; $113.8 million to rehabilitate track, signals and structures to support future commuter-rail service between Pittsfield and New York City; and $20.8 million to upgrade rail, grade crossings, bridges and station accessibility to extend seasonal passenger-rail service on weekends between Boston and Hyannis.