SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1429 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2054
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joanne M. Comerford
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to examine the feasibility of rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Joanne M. Comerford | Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester |
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John Barrett, III | 1st Berkshire | 1/25/2019 |
Natalie M. Blais | 1st Franklin | 1/27/2019 |
Adam G. Hinds | Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden | 1/30/2019 |
Mindy Domb | 3rd Hampshire | 1/31/2019 |
Dean A. Tran | Worcester and Middlesex | 2/14/2019 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1429 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2054
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2054) of Joanne M. Comerford, John Barrett, III, Natalie M. Blais, Adam G. Hinds and other members of the General Court for legislation to examine the feasibility of rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston. Transportation. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act to examine the feasibility of rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall conduct a feasibility study of rail access between the cities of North Adams and Boston.
The study shall examine and evaluate the costs and economic opportunities related to establishing rail service between the cities of North Adams and Greenfield, and Greenfield and Boston, including, but not limited to: (i) the projected capital costs; (ii) the projected operating costs and revenue estimates; (iii) the projected ridership levels; (iv) the prospect of operating rail service on existing rights of way and other operational issues; (v) an estimate of the environmental impact; (vi) an analysis of community impact and benefits; (vii) the potential sources and availability of federal, state, local and private sector funding and (viii) the resulting economic, employment, social and cultural benefits to Franklin and Berkshire counties and the commonwealth as a whole.
The Department shall file the report with the clerks of the house and senate, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on transportation not later than June 30, 2020.