Budget Amendment ID: FY2020-S3-1126-R1

Redraft TRP 1126

Berkshire Flyer Operating Costs

Mr. Hinds moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2E, in item 1595-6368, by adding the following words:- "; provided, that not less than $270,000 shall be expended for the pilot season of the Berkshire Flyer, a weekend passenger rail service connecting New York city and the Berkshires between Memorial Day and Columbus Day in calendar year 2020, deemed economically viable and beneficial by the study conducted pursuant to section 137 of chapter 47 of the acts of 2017; provided further, that not more than $30,000 of this appropriation shall be made available to the Berkshire regional transit authority to hire a project manager during the pilot season; provided further, that not later than December 31, 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall develop and execute a memorandum of understanding with the Berkshire regional transit authority, which shall serve as the local sponsor of the Berkshire Flyer, as defined in the report filed  section 101 of chapter 154 of the acts of 2018; provided further, that the memorandum of understanding shall define: (i) the responsibilities of the local sponsor and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation during the pilot season; (ii) how funding will be distributed to and from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Amtrak and the Berkshire regional transit authority; and (iii) all fiscal liabilities assumed during the pilot season including, but not limited to, responsibilities and fiscal requirements prescribed by section 209 of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008; provided further, that the memorandum of understanding shall clearly delineate the functions of and funding for the pilot for all parties and the conditions under which service decisions shall be made "; and

in said section 2E, in said item 1595-6368, by striking out the figure "$343,879,616" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$344,149,616".