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