| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1987 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2416 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Paul W. Mark |
|---|
| 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 relative to an interstate compact for western MA rail service. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Hampshire 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1987 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2416 |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2416) of Paul W. Mark for legislation |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | relative to an interstate compact for western MA rail service. Transportation. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 2266 OF 2023-2024.] |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | An Act relative to an interstate compact for western MA rail service. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 1 The secretary of transportation is hereby authorized and directed to develop, participate |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 2in the development of, negotiate and enter into compacts on behalf of the Commonwealth with |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 3the states of Connecticut, New York, and Vermont, or any appropriate agency or jurisdiction |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 4thereof, to implement the following purposes: |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 5 (a) It shall be the purpose of this compact, through means of joint and cooperative action |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 6among the compacting states to: (i) establish permanent commuter rail service between the cities |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 7of New Haven and Brattleboro including stops in Greenfield, Holyoke, Northampton, and |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 8Springfield; (ii) establish permanent commuter rail service between the cities of Worcester and |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 9Albany including stops in Pittsfield, Chester, Springfield, and Palmer; (iii) explore the extension |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 10of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Program along the Knowledge Corridor through 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 11Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, and Brattleboro; (iv) publicly promote permanent commuter |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 12rail services connecting Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties to Albany, |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 13Boston, Brattleboro, Hartford, and New Haven, and undertake efforts to ensure the success of |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 14permanent commuter rail service in Western Massachusetts. |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 15 (b) It shall be the policy of the compacting states that the activities conducted by any |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 16interstate commissions created are the formation of public policies and therefore are public |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 17business. Furthermore, the compacting states shall cooperate and observe their individual and |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | 18collective duties and responsibilities to ensure the success of any programs established. The |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | 19provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to accomplish the |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | 20purposes and policies of the compact. |
|---|