Amendment #1165 to H4200

Western Massachusetts to Boston High Speed Rail

Mr. Kocot of Northampton moves that the bill be amended in section 2E, in item 1595-6368, by adding at the end thereof after "Laws" the following: "...provided that the department of transportation shall convene a working group, not later than October 1, 2016, for the purpose of expediting the improvement of high speed passenger rail service between Springfield, Worcester and Boston, including the establishment of high speed passenger rail service between those communities along the so-called "Inland Route", connecting with the "Knowledge Corridor" high speed rail line and connecting with north/south rail services in Boston. Said working group shall include, but not be limited to elected officials, including the Congressional delegation, representing communities along the Inland Route, and rail lines connecting to it, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, organized labor and existing rail service stakeholders, including Amtrak, PanAm, the MBTA and CSX Railways. Said working group shall interface with the planning process authorized for funding in item 6622-1384 of section 2F, chapter 79 of the Acts of 2014 and include the goals contained in the departmental document entitled "Transforming the Rail Network for Economic and Community Development", shall evaluate the use of so called "maglev" propulsion technologies along this route and shall issue a report on the cost, route alignment and engineering details of the operation of this high sped rail transit route to the House and Senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation no later than April 30, 2017".