About The Project
The administration of Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray is advancing the restoration of passenger rail between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford and downtown Boston as a key economic development initiative for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The South Coast area is one of the fastest growing regions of the Commonwealth, home to growing communities for which improved transportation access could be a vehicle for economic development and job creation. In addition, the cities of Fall River and New Bedford are some of the largest municipalities within a 50-mile radius of Boston without rail transit service, service that will provide a much needed link between job opportunities and affordable housing for the residents of the Commonwealth. The existing highway network connecting the South Coast to the Boston area is inadequate for the needs of today, causing traffic congestion, safety concerns, and air quality degradation, with expectations for even greater congestion in the future. For all of these reasons, the Patrick-Murray Administration will pursue the implementation of passenger rail service to the South Coast as a means to promote the sustainable economic growth that is crucial for Massachusetts.
