SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1826        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2274

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William N. Brownsberger

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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 extending the blue line.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1826        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2274

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 extending the blue line.

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 extending rapid transit service from Bowdoin station to Riverside station.

SECTION 2: The study shall review the design for the blue line extension to Charles/MGH station to ensure that the track alignment does not preclude extending the blue line to Riverside station.

SECTION 3. The study shall examine and evaluate the costs and economic opportunities related to extending blue line service from Bowdoin station to Riverside station, 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 on existing rights of way and other operational issues; (v) the environmental and community impact estimates; (vi) the availability of federal, state, local and private sector funding sources; (vii) the environmental and social justice benefits and burdens specific to the demographics of the region; (vii) regional equity in rapid transit investments in the commonwealth; and (viii) the potential economic, social and cultural benefits to communities along the blue line, the Longwood Medical Area and to the commonwealth as a whole.  

SECTION 4. The department shall file the report with the clerks of the house and senate, the house and senate committee on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation not later than July 31, 2022.