Letter: Advocate for Passenger Rail from North Adams to Boston

To the Editor:

As a North Adams city councilor, I, Andrew Fitch, feel obligated to inform your readers of a project which would reconnect the Berkshires with Boston and much of the northern portion of our commonwealth. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has concluded a study to examine the benefits and options associated with connecting a Northern Tier Passenger Train line between Boston and North Adams. I implore you and your readers to take this time to learn about and advocate for this exciting new project that could expand commerce and travel across Massachusetts.

On Feb. 9, 1875, the very first train passed through the completed Hoosac Tunnel. An engineering marvel at the time, the tunnel provided a direct route to Boston for passenger and freight trains alike. In 1910, the Hoosac was electrified to speed up traffic, allowing for an average of 70,000 train cars to travel through every month and North Adams and the Berkshires transformed into a notable hub of economic development for the state, curating a booming tourism sector while being a gateway into New York. Unfortunately, the last regularly scheduled passenger train from Boston to North Adams, The Minuteman, completed its route in 1958.

Led by Project Manager Mikaela Niles, MassDOT and its contractors have proposed six possible options after a two-year study. Each option outlines an estimated summary of building needs and operations, cost, location of stations, trip time, and job output. It is important to note that each choice builds on top of existing locomotive infrastructure vastly cutting the overall costs, regardless of the option. For comparison, the West-East Passenger Rail proposed to span from Pittsfield to Boston is estimated to cost about $4.6 billion which is about $1.5 billion more than the most expensive Northern Tier Rail estimates.

The implications of this passenger line would be felt throughout the state. With proper planning and community involvement, local and regional economies have the potential to reconnect with opportunities previously lost. This would include the increased diversification of the physical workforce, access to jobs throughout the state, and new avenues of tourism. Similarly, many aspects of the Northern Berkshires' economy and cultural centers would thrive. Massachusetts residents would have easier access to medical specialists, other transportation hubs such as Logan Airport, and many cultural beacons such as concerts, parades and sporting events.

Andrew Fitch
North Adams, Mass. 

Fitch is a North Adams City Councilor

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