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 the current terminus of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Orange Line at Oak Grove in the City of Malden to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Rail station through Roslindale Village, in the Roslindale section of the city of Boston.

SECTION 2. The study shall examine and evaluate the costs and economic opportunities related to extending Orange Line service or otherwise expanding rapid transit service from the City of Malden to the City of 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 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) regional equity in rapid transit investments in the commonwealth, and (viii) the potential economic, social and cultural benefits to the Boston Neighborhoods and the commonwealth as a whole.

SECTION 3. The department shall file the report with the clerks of the house and senate, the chairs of the house and senate committee on ways and means and the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on transportation not later than 120 days after passage of this act.