A draft report from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on expanded passenger rail service between the western part of the state and Boston was released this week. And the public will have the opportunity to comment on it Thursday.
The report suggests three possible routes, which were revealed a few weeks ago. MassDOT says more study needs to be done on a few topics. They include the economic impact of the project, exploring opportunities with rail partners and looking at financial hurdles.
"The fact that we now have in front of us a blueprint from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation analyzing rail service statewide from Pittsfield to Springfield, and on to Boston, is a big deal," said state Senator Eric Lesser of Longmeadow. He's part of the group that's been looking at east-west rail.
State Representative Smitty Pignatelli of Lenox also sits on the panel. He said whether or not the project becomes reality will depend on several factors.
"It's going to come down to money, political will, and what's the best route, thinking for the next generation," Pignatelli said. "I think that's what we're still trying to flesh out."
It's been made clear significant federal dollars will be needed for the project to get off of the ground.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal of Springfield, a Democrat who chairs the influential House Ways and Means Committee, supports east-west rail, something both Lesser and Pignatelli both said is crucial to the project's future.
However, MassDOT officials have said the federal cost analysis score, which helps determine possible funding, is low. The report suggests developing "a proposal for legislative changes to the federal cost analysis method based on outcomes from further study of economic and community impacts."
Another area where the report calls for a closer look is who will have governance over passenger rail outside of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) service district.
MassDOT currently "isn't set up to operate as a railroad, and the MBTA is limited to operations within its service areas," the report says. The MBTA oversees bus and subway service in the greater Boston area, and commuter rail lines in the eastern half of the state.
In addition to Thursday's virtual public comment session, written comments will be accepted for the next month. The final report is due out by the end of November.
