South Coast Rail project, which would provide commuter rail services between Boston and southeastern Massachusetts’ cities, reached two milestones within the first phase. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced that a finance plan is completed and will be fully funded in the Commonwealth’s Capital Investment Plan and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has approved the final federal permit required for the programme to advance.
In the same time, early action steps are underway including infrastructure work and the acquisition of land for stations.
“Providing rail service between the South Coast and Boston will increase access to economic opportunities in both regions. After decades of promised service, this announcement moves the project further than it’s ever been before, and our administration is proud to continue advancing South Coast Rail,” the Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, said.
The South Coast Rail phase 1 Finance Plan was created after independent cost and schedule reviews were conducted by three companies. A workshop was held to review the three submissions on cost and schedule and a consensus was achieved on the program cost of USD 1 billion. in consultation with the authorities, the decision was made that phase 1 would be funded 100 percent by the Commonwealth through a combination of general obligation bonds and special obligation bonds to be issued under existing authorisation for the Rail Enhancement Programme.
The MBTA will not be required to issue any revenue bonds that might otherwise impact the MBTA’s future operating budgets.
The first phase of South Coast Rail programme includes the extension of existing Middleborough Line service using diesel-powered trains to New Bedford and Fall River, the reconstruction of 28 km the New Bedford Main Line and 19 km of the Fall River Secondary, upgrading 11.5 km between Pilgrim Junction and Cotley Junction on the existing Middleborough Secondary track, constructing two new layover facilities, and, constructing six new stations.
The South Coast Rail project will restore commuter rail service between Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford are the only major cities within 80.5 km of Boston that do not currently have commuter rail access to Boston. Phase 1 will restore service to the region by the end of 2023.
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