This is a crucial moment in our effort to Bring Back the Trains! Please email or telephone MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey to advocate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to move forward decisively on the Housatonic passenger rail line. The Governor’s comments, reported in the Berkshire Eagle on Tuesday and linked below, have set the stage. Now it’s up to all of us, as individuals and community leaders, to keep the pressure on. Things are progressing and those close to the center of action tell me that the project simply needs energetic and vocal support to push it across the goal line – making this financial investment in the face of competing projects.
Let’s stand up for the Berkshires, western Massachusetts, and in the process for northwestern Connecticut, too, where we now there is much support, and need for this economic boost. A simple email is all that is needed. Just say who you are and that you’re counting on the person’s firm support and swift commitment to make passenger rail service between Pittsfield and New York a reality. Provide your full name and address, with town. Telephone calls are fast and effective, too: a staffer will answer and you just need to explain that you’re calling to urge the Secretary or the Senator to support funding for the Housatonic rail service. And postal mail is effective, too.
Mr. Jody Ray, Deputy Director of Rail
Email: john.ray@state.ma.us
Mr. Richard A. Davey – telephone 857-368-4636 x5
Secretary of Transportation, MassDOT
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116
richard.davey@state.ma.us
Contact Congressman Neal and ask him to advocate on behalf of this project:
The Honorable Richard E. Neal telephone 202-225-5601
1st Congressional District, Massachusetts
2208 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Daniel Johnson, District Aide telephone 413-442-0946
More information about writing to legislators: https://www.traincampaign.org/index.php/take-action/#reps
Berkshire Eagle article mentioned above:
Of the up to $131 million included in a state bond authorization to upgrade 38 miles of rail line in the county to allow passenger rail service connecting Pittsfield with points in Connecticut and New York City, Patrick said he would like the initiative to be “at the point of no return by the time I leave office. I think this is huge. It is a big deal for Pittsfield.”
However, the governor said he won’t release the funding unless the public-private partnership for the rail line improvements under negotiation with Housatonic Railroad Co. reflects a good investment for the state. That would include flexibility for freight use of the line and that the rail connections in Connecticut also are in place so that travelers could ride to and from the Metro- North lines to the south and New York.
The entire rail improvement project has been estimated at roughly $225 million.
You can help today!
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