HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3908

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 9, 2023.

The committee on Transportation to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3315) of Brandy Fluker Oakley and others relative to service on the Fairmount commuter rail line, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 3908) ought to pass.

For the committee,

WILLIAM M. STRAUS.

        FILED ON: 6/9/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3908

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act improving rail service on the Fairmount commuter rail 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. Within 180 days following the effective date of this act, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and operator of commuter rail service shall ensure frequent and affordable service on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, which shall be renamed as the Fairmount/Indigo Line. For the purposes of this section, “frequent and affordable service” shall require: (i) not fewer than three train-sets dedicated to Fairmount/Indigo Line service; provided that such train-sets shall be specially wrapped and marked as Fairmount/Indigo Line trains; and provided further, that such train-sets shall not be diverted from Fairmount/Indigo Line service for any purpose except maintenance; (ii) enhanced headways during peak hours; (iii) the ability to pay for fares 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; (iv) fares levied 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; (v) bus service at Fairmount/Indigo Line stations synchronized with train schedules to the maximum extent feasible; and (vi) the construction of high-level ADA-compliant platforms at Readville and Fairmount stations.

SECTION 2. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall study and report on the feasibility and cost of constructing, operating and maintaining the following improvements to the Fairmount/Indigo Line: (i) additional entrances and redundant elevators and stairs at existing stations and (ii) additional infill stations, including without limitation stations at Columbia Road and River Street. The report shall be delivered to the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than 1 year following the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3: Not later than July 1, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall complete designs for the electrification of the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line between South Station and Readville; provided, that such designs shall be sufficient to apply for federal stimulus funding to ensure electrification on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line between South Station and Readville.