Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2271 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1727 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2271
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Liz Miranda
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act improving rail service on the Fairmount commuter rail line.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond SuffolkLydia EdwardsThird Suffolk2/8/2023 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1727 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2271
18	18	By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2271) of Liz Miranda and Lydia
19	19	Edwards for legislation to improve rail service on the Fairmount commuter rail line.
20	20	Transportation.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act improving rail service on the Fairmount commuter rail line.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1: Within 180 days following the effective date, the Massachusetts Bay
30	30	2Transportation Authority and operator of commuter rail service shall make the following
31	31	3improvements to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line: (i) require uniform fares at all stations
32	32	4from South Station to Readville that are the same rate charged to ride the subway network, with
33	33	5free transfers to connecting bus lines and to the Red and Silver Lines at South Station; (ii)
34	34	6complete a plan, in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Planning
35	35	7Office, for electrifying the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, and post that plan online in an
36	36	8accessible format; and (iii) allow fare media including, but not limited to, CharlieCards or its
37	37	9equivalent successor products, M7 Passes, S-Cards, Youth Passes, and other discounted fare
38	38	10medium available to people with disabilities, seniors, students, and those people meeting other
39	39	11eligibility criteria; (iv) amend the train or connecting bus schedules to facilitate synchronized bus
40	40	12service with commuter rail service at Fairmount Commuter Rail Line stations, to the maximum 2 of 3
41	41	13extent feasible; and (v) designate on station maps the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line as the
42	42	14Fairmount/Indigo Line.
43	43	15 SECTION 2: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall implement
44	44	16electrification along the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line from South Station to Readville Station
45	45	17by December 31, 2024. Not later than November 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of
46	46	18Transportation should begin construction on the Fairmount corridor to support rail electrification.
47	47	19Not later than December 31, 2025, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and
48	48	20Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall work with the Executive Office of Energy and
49	49	21Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and
50	50	22Massachusetts Department of Public Health to evaluate and file a report with the Joint
51	51	23Committee on Transportation indicating the greenhouse gas emissions reduction, air quality
52	52	24improvement, climate and health benefits of electrifying the Fairmount/Indigo Line.
53	53	25 SECTION 3: By December 31, 2029, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
54	54	26shall operate service on the Fairmount/Indigo Line every 7.5 minutes in each direction and
55	55	27ensure that there are no less than three train-sets dedicated to service on the line. By December
56	56	2831, 2029, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall construct high-level ADA-
57	57	29compliant platforms at Fairmount and Readville Stations. As part of its operations in 2029, the
58	58	30Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority or Massachusetts Department of Transportation
59	59	31shall complete an analysis into additional entrances at existing stations and redundant elevators
60	60	32and stairs and adding infill stations at Columbia Road and River Street. Train-sets shall not be
61	61	33diverted from the Fairmount/Indigo Line service for any purpose except maintenance directly
62	62	34upon such train-set. By December 31, 2035, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
63	63	35shall maintain the ability to operate service on the Fairmount/Indigo Line every 5 minutes in 3 of 3
64	64	36each direction. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall pursue federal funding to
65	65	37support the Fairmount/Indigo Line improvements.