SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1628        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2280

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Nick Collins

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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 establishing rapid transportation and electrification for the Fairmount corridor.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1628        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2280

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 establishing rapid transportation and electrification for the Fairmount corridor.

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. Within 90 days following the effective date, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and operator of commuter rail service shall ensure frequent, all-day, and affordable service on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, which shall be renamed as the Fairmount/Indigo Line.  Frequent, all-day, and affordable service shall mean that: 1) No less than three train-sets are dedicated to Fairmount/Indigo Line service; provided that such train-sets shall consist of electric multiple units to minimize acceleration/deceleration time; provided that such train-sets shall be specially wrapped and marked as Fairmount/Indigo Line trains; provided, further, that such train-sets shall not be diverted from Fairmount/Indigo Line service for any purpose except maintenance directly upon such train-set. 2) Fairmount/Indigo Line service operates with headways no longer than 30 minutes during off-peak hours, and no longer than 15 minutes during peak hours. 3) Riders may pay for Fairmount/Indigo Line service with fare media including, but not limited to, CharlieCards or its equivalent successor product, M7 Passes, S-Cards, Youth Passes, and other discounted fare medium available to people with disabilities, seniors, and students. 4) Fares levied to access the Fairmount/Indigo Line at all stations from Readville to South Station shall be at the same rate charged to ride the subway network, with free transfers to connecting bus lines and to the Red and Silver Lines at South Station. 5) Bus service at Fairmount/Indigo Line stations shall be synchronized with train schedules to the maximum extent feasible. 6) High-level ADA-compliant platforms must be constructed at Readville and Fairmount stations. 7) There shall be an analysis into additional entrances at existing stations and redundant elevators and stairs. 8) There shall be an analysis into additional infill stations like Columbia Road and River Street.

SECTION 2: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall implement electrification along the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line from South Station to Readville Station by December 31, 2024.  Not later than November 1, 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation should begin construction on the Fairmount corridor to support rail electrification. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall work with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Massachusetts Department of Public Health to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions reduction, air quality improvement, and health benefits of electrifying the Fairmount corridor. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall submit a report to the Joint Committee on Transportation by June 30, 2025, which shall include the climate mitigation, air quality, and health impacts of electrifying the Fairmount/Indigo Line.

SECTION 3: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall work with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to complete engineering and design by January 1, 2022 that is sufficient to apply for federal stimulus funding to ensure electrification on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line between South Station and Readville.