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1/7/2021
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) on Tuesday issued its final report for the East-West Passenger-Rail Study, which examined the potential benefits, costs and investments necessary to create a passenger-rail service that would connect riders in western, central and eastern Massachusetts.
The study outlines three alternatives that could be "most favorable" for East-West service, including the pros and cons, costs and project ridership for each alternative, MassDOT officials said in an agency blog post.
The study also recommends next steps, including discussions with CSX about possible use of its track between Springfield and Worcester; a follow-up study detailing the economic and community impacts; potential governance of a new passenger-rail service in western Massachusetts; and possible funding sources.
Accommodating passenger-rail on the CSX right of way would add as much as $1.5 billion to the cost of the project because CSX policy favors the complete separation of the passenger operations from CSX track whenever possible, according to MassDOT officials.
The final report recommends further consideration of the following three alternatives:• Alternative 3 could provide direct passenger-rail service between Pittsfield and Boston along a shared track/shared CSX and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) corridor;• Alternative 4 could provide direct service between Pittsfield and Springfield along a shared track/shared CSX corridor, along an independent passenger track between Springfield and Worcester, and along a shared track/shared MBTA corridor between Worcester and Boston; and• Hybrid Alternative 4/5 could provide direct service between Pittsfield and Springfield along a shared track/shared CSX corridor, along an independent passenger track with high-speed shortcuts between Springfield and Worcester, and along a shared track/shared MBTA corridor between Worcester and Boston.
The study recommends four next steps to gather more information that could inform the development of the East-West passenger corridor beyond the study's analysis.
"The study's next steps could advance opportunities for turning East-West passenger rail from a subject of a study to a project that can be designed, permitted, funded, built and operated," said MassDOT Deputy Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger.