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

North Adams Unveils Hometown Heroes Banners

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
04:30PM / Friday, May 22, 2026

Carol Ethier-Kipp holds up the first aid kit her father used as an Army medic in World War II. See more photos here. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City of North Adams honored its own on Friday afternoon, unveiling 50 downtown street banners representing local veterans who served — and continue to serve — the community and the country.

 

More than 300 residents packed the front lawn of City Hall as the community took a moment to reflect on its "Hometown Heroes" during the morning unveiling ceremony.

 

"In a city like North Adams, service is personal. The men and women we honor today are not strangers to us. They are our neighbors, our classmates, our parents, our grandparents," Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the crowd. "... These banners are far more than names and pictures hanging along our streets. They are visible reminders of the values that define North Adams: courage, sacrifice, humility, duty, resilience, and the love of country. They remind every person who passes by that this community remembers our veterans."

 

The banner program launched exactly a year ago. Veterans Services Agent Kurtis Durocher opened applications in October and spent the next six months working with families to bring the project to Main Street and over the Hadley Overpass. 

 

"We gather to recognize the brave men and women from our community who have served or who are currently serving in the United States armed forces," Durocher said. "These banners are more than images. They bear a tribute to service, sacrifice, courage, and pride, and they remind us that the freedoms we enjoy every day have been protected by our neighbors, family members, friends, and Hometown Heroes."

 

Each banner features a portrait of a veteran alongside their military branch and dates of service.

 

Durocher noted that the program was something residents clearly wanted, pointing to how fast applications flooded his desk. He praised the volunteers who stepped up to get the banners made and displayed — including city firefighters and Mitchell Meranti of Wire & Alarm Department, who were installing them as late as Thursday night.