HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 3908
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 9, 2023.
The committee on Transportation to whom was referred the petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 3315) of Brandy Fluker Oakley and
others relative to service on the Fairmount commuter rail line, reports
recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 3908) ought to
pass.
For the committee,
WILLIAM M. STRAUS. 1 of 2
FILED ON: 6/9/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3908
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act improving rail service on the Fairmount commuter rail line.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Within 180 days following the effective date of this act, the Massachusetts
2Bay Transportation Authority and operator of commuter rail service shall ensure frequent and
3affordable service on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, which shall be renamed as the
4Fairmount/Indigo Line. For the purposes of this section, “frequent and affordable service” shall
5require: (i) not fewer than three train-sets dedicated to Fairmount/Indigo Line service; provided
6that such train-sets shall be specially wrapped and marked as Fairmount/Indigo Line trains; and
7provided further, that such train-sets shall not be diverted from Fairmount/Indigo Line service for
8any purpose except maintenance; (ii) enhanced headways during peak hours; (iii) the ability to
9pay for fares for Fairmount/Indigo Line service with fare media including, but not limited to,
10CharlieCards or its equivalent successor product, M7 Passes, S-Cards, Youth Passes, and other
11discounted fare medium available to people with disabilities, seniors, and students; (iv) fares
12levied at the same rate charged to ride the subway network, with free transfers to connecting bus
13lines and to the Red and Silver Lines at South Station; (v) bus service at Fairmount/Indigo Line 2 of 2
14stations synchronized with train schedules to the maximum extent feasible; and (vi) the
15construction of high-level ADA-compliant platforms at Readville and Fairmount stations.
16 SECTION 2. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall study and report on
17the feasibility and cost of constructing, operating and maintaining the following improvements to
18the Fairmount/Indigo Line: (i) additional entrances and redundant elevators and stairs at existing
19stations and (ii) additional infill stations, including without limitation stations at Columbia Road
20and River Street. The report shall be delivered to the house and senate chairs of the joint
21committee on transportation and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later
22than 1 year following the effective date of this act.
23 SECTION 3: Not later than July 1, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of
24Transportation shall complete designs for the electrification of the Fairmount Commuter Rail
25Line between South Station and Readville; provided, that such designs shall be sufficient to
26apply for federal stimulus funding to ensure electrification on the Fairmount Commuter Rail
27Line between South Station and Readville.