HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3335        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3532

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul W. Mark and Lindsay N. Sabadosa

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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 relative to an interstate compact for Western MA rail service.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Paul W. Mark

2nd Berkshire

2/19/2021

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/19/2021

Patricia A. Duffy

5th Hampden

2/19/2021

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

3/4/2021

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

3/9/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3335        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3532

By Representatives Mark of Peru and Sabadosa of Northampton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3532) of Paul W. Mark, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and others that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation enter into an interstate compact for certain rail service.  Transportation.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to an interstate compact for Western MA rail service.

 

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. The secretary of transportation is hereby authorized and directed to develop, participate in the development of, negotiate and enter into a compact on behalf of the commonwealth with the state of Connecticut or any appropriate agency or jurisdiction thereof to implement the following purposes:

(a) It shall be the purpose of this compact, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states to: (i) establish permanent commuter rail service between the cities of New Haven and Greenfield including stops in Holyoke, Northampton, and Springfield; (ii) explore the extension of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Program along the Knowledge Corridor through Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield; (iii) publicly promote permanent commuter rail service along the Knowledge Corridor and undertake efforts to ensure the success of permanent commuter rail service in Western Massachusetts.

(b) It shall be the policy of the compacting states that the activities conducted by any interstate commissions created are the formation of public policies and therefore are public business. Furthermore, the compacting states shall cooperate and observe their individual and collective duties and responsibilities to ensure the success of any programs established. The provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to accomplish the purposes and policies of the compact.