FREETOWN, Mass. — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was among more than 40 politicians and government officials on hand Tuesday as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony for its long-awaited South Coast Rail expansion project.
The project has been discussed for more than 25 years, and this was not the first time ground has been broken for the work to extend MBTA service to Fall River and New Bedford, Mass., the Providence Journal reports. But Baker noted that this time, the groundbreaking came as the extension has full funding and a completed construction plan.
“Those are really the two big things it didn’t have before,” Baker told the paper. “… And that basically guarantees it’s going to happen.” The state’s five-year capital plan has allocated $1 billion in funding for the project.
The project will require reconstruction of 17.3 miles of track and upgrading of 7.1 miles of existing track, as well as the building of six stations and two layover facilities. [See “Massachusetts commuter rail project clears funding, permit hurdles,” Trains News Wire, April 23, 2019.] Service is projected to begin in 2023.
