MassDOT names Stoughton alternative best South Coast Rail route in DEIS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the South Coast Rail project and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has adopted the Corps' document as the state-required Draft Environmental Impact Report. In the document, MassDOT identifies the Stoughton rail alternative as its preferred route for providing the best transportation, environmental and smart growth benefits. "The Patrick-Murray Administration is committed to delivering the economic and quality of life benefits that South Coast Rail will provide, and today's release of this environmental document is a critical step forward in obtaining the environmental clearances we need to bring long-awaited commuter rail service to the South Coast", said MassDOT Transportation Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan. "After an exhaustive process involving all affected communities what we found is that there's only one route that provides high quality service while at the same time advancing the state's air quality, energy and climate goals," said MBTA General Manager and Rail and Transit Administrator Rich Davey. "And that is the Stoughton alternative." The DEIS/DIER release is the culmination of nearly four years of coordination between MassDOT, the Corps and 10 other state and federal agencies. The DEIS/DEIR is a combined federal and state document that compares eight alternatives for restoring public transit service to the cities of Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford. The document provides information on the transportation benefits of each of these alternatives and the potential impacts of the alternatives on noise, wetlands, rare species, air quality and other social, historic and environmental resources. MassDOT has identified the Stoughton family of alternatives as its preferred corridor in the preface to the document. The Corps will not determine the permittable route until later in the environmental process. The Corridor Plan estimates the South Coast Rail project will stimulate nearly $500 million in new economic activity each year, while creating at least 3,500 net long-term jobs by 2030, with two-thirds of those jobs in the region. Construction of the rail project will generate an additional 7,000 to 8,000 jobs. In addition to creating jobs and stimulating neighborhood revitalization, the plan identifies over 70 sites that are important to preserve due to the presence of high quality natural resources.