BOSTON — The Massachusetts
Senate has adopted an amendment that would require the state to study the
feasibility of developing high-speed rail between Boston
and Springfield.
"This study will be a first step toward establishing
a rail link between Boston and Springfield," said State Sen. Eric
Lesser, D-Longmeadow, who sponsored the amendment. "For our economy in the
Pioneer Valley to grow, we need to connect
ourselves to the red-hot growth we've seen in other parts of the state. Rail
will help make that happen."
The amendment was adopted on voice vote on Thursday as
the Senate finished debating its $38.1 billion budget. The budget must still go
through a committee of House and Senate negotiators.
The amendment would require the Department of Transportation
to look at the costs and economic opportunities related to developing
high-speed rail between Springfield and Boston. The study must
look at capital costs, operating costs and revenue estimates, projected
ridership, required upgrades, environmental impacts, availability of outside
funding sources and general benefits to Springfield
and the state. The report would be due Dec. 1, 2016.
The amendment was based on a similar bill that Lesser
sponsored, which was backed by several Western Massachusetts
lawmakers.
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