SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1812        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2107

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Eric P. Lesser

_________________

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 study the feasibility of high-speed rail access between Pittsfield and Boston via Springfield.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Eric P. Lesser

First Hampden and Hampshire

 

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex

1/30/2019

James T. Welch

Hampden

1/30/2019

Adam G. Hinds

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden

1/30/2019

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

1/29/2019

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

Second Hampden and Hampshire

2/1/2019

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

1/29/2019

Antonio F. D. Cabral

13th Bristol

1/30/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/30/2019

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

1/30/2019

Bud L. Williams

11th Hampden

1/30/2019

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

1/31/2019

Carlos González

10th Hampden

2/1/2019

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

5th Essex

2/1/2019

Daniel R. Carey

2nd Hampshire

2/1/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/12/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1812        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2107

By Mr. Lesser, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2107) of Eric P. Lesser, Anne M. Gobi, James T. Welch, Adam G. Hinds and other members of the General Court for legislation to study the feasibility of high-speed rail access between Pittsfield and Boston via Springfield.  Transportation.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act to study the feasibility of high-speed rail access between Pittsfield and Boston via Springfield.

 

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 relative to high-speed rail access between the cities of Pittsfield and Boston via Springfield.

The study shall examine and evaluate the costs and economic opportunities related to establishing high-speed rail service between the cities of Pittsfield and Boston via Springfield, 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 high-speed rail service on existing rights of way and other operational issues, including upgrades to the at-grade crossings in the towns of Ashland and Framingham; (v) the environmental and community impact estimates; (vi) the availability of federal, state, local and private sector funding sources; and (vii) the resulting economic, social and cultural benefits to Western Massachusetts, the greater Springfield region, 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 December 1, 2019.