Budget Amendment ID: FY2018-S3-1008

TRP 1008

BerkshireFLYER

Mr. Hinds moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting, after section 114, the following new section: -

SECTION 115.  The department of transportation shall convene a working group, not later than October 1, 2017, for the purposes of identifying and evaluating the economic and cultural benefits, and political, legal or logistical challenges to the Berkshires, western Massachusetts and the Commonwealth as a whole, of establishing direct seasonal weekend passenger rail service between New York City and Pittsfield between Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends modeled on the CapeFLYER passenger rail.  The working group shall contact New York officials on the state, local and county level to identify opportunities for collaboration and mutually-beneficial improvements and expansions in passenger rail infrastructure and service.  The working group shall include, but not be limited to, a designee from the secretary of housing and economic development, elected officials from the state and federal legislative delegations, the duly elected Mayor of Pittsfield, the Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission and existing rail service stakeholders.  The secretary & CEO of the department of transportation shall designate a qualified individual to chair the working group.  The working group shall submit its findings to the Massachusetts department of transportation, the joint committee on transportation, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development no later than March 1, 2018.