Bill > S2416

This bill authorizes the Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation to develop and negotiate interstate compacts with Connecticut, New York, and Vermont to establish and expand commuter rail services in western Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill aims to create permanent rail connections between several key cities, including establishing a commuter rail route between New Haven and Brattleboro that would stop in cities like Greenfield, Holyoke, Northampton, and Springfield, and another route between Worcester and Albany with stops in Pittsfield, Chester, Springfield, and Palmer. The bill also calls for exploring the extension of the existing New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Program and publicly promoting rail services that would connect Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties to major regional cities like Albany, Boston, Brattleboro, Hartford, and New Haven. The compact emphasizes that the activities of any created interstate commissions are considered public business, and the participating states are expected to cooperate and work together to ensure the success of these rail service programs. The bill directs that its provisions should be interpreted broadly to achieve its transportation connectivity goals.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2416