Brendan Crighton
Picture a Massachusetts with enough housing to meet demand. A Massachusetts that hits its climate reduction goals. A Massachusetts with strategically-considered development that results in walkable streets and vibrant downtown areas centered near public transportation.
Essential to this vision is a completely electrified regional rail network.
Massachusetts is one of the most desirable states to live in the country. We offer some of the best jobs, higher education opportunities and best communities to call home. But our future success as a state relies on our ability to modernize our public transportation system in a way that makes it faster, cleaner, more reliable – and more attractive to riders.
In 2019, the Fiscal Management and Control Board of the MBTA committed to beginning Phase 1 of electrification of the commuter rail network, which included the Fairmount Line, Providence Line and the Newburyport-Rockport Line, also known as the Environmental Justice Corridor.
The world looks a lot different than it did in 2019. But that commitment is an important part of our post-pandemic economic recovery plan.
It would cost somewhere between an estimated $800 million and $1.5 billion to completely electrify the entire commuter rail network. If we look at other countries that have fully electrified their network, such as Israel, Norway, Denmark and New Zealand, we can expect the process of full electrification to take at a minimum six to eight years, if all things run smoothly.
If Massachusetts is going to meet its statutory commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, electrification of the commuter rail needs to begin now.
Funding from Feds Available
While the price tag may seem high, we are poised to receive historic levels of funding from the Biden Administration through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. And when those costs are compared to what must be spent to repair and maintain our aging diesel fleet, this is a smart investment that will completely transform the future of the commuter rail.
Not only does this strategy make sense from an investment and environmental justice perspective, but future housing development goals as well. Both the Legislature and the administration have signaled that transit-oriented development is the future of multifamily housing production. With the recent passage and implementation process of the so-called “Housing Choice+” provisions, we have successfully modernized our state zoning code for the first time in decades. All communities serviced by the MBTA, including towns with commuter rail, subway, and bus service and adjacent communities, must have at least one zone suitably located near transit that is zoned for multifamily development by right.
If we look at other countries that have fully electrified their network, we can expect the process of full electrification to take at a minimum six to eight years, if all things run smoothly.
If we are going all in on building accessible, multifamily housing near transit nodes across the state, it is essential that these future developments are anchored by consistently reliable modes of public transportation.
Massachusetts has some of the worst traffic congestion in the country. These frustrating commutes are returning full-fledged post-pandemic. Creating an attractive alternative to commuting by car will help alleviate traffic and emissions throughout the entire region.
Electric Trains are Better, Faster, Stronger
Electric trains are better for our environment and for commuters. They are faster and significantly more reliable than diesel locomotives. Ask any regular commuter rail rider what they’d like to see from their service and they will all say they want a train that will get them where they’re going consistently faster and on time. Electric trains are also proven to work more reliably than their diesel counterparts, especially during winter months. An electric regional rail will not only make the commute a better experience for the current ridership, but it will bring new riders to the rail as well.
According to a 2021 report done by TransitMatters, transitioning to electric trains and building out the infrastructure to create level boarding platforms could cut up to 45 percent off the trip times of MBTA commuter trains, with even higher time-savings on lines with closely-spaced stations. Imagine what commuters could do with that additional time during their day. Imagine if hopping on the train from Lynn to Boston was an attractive and affordable transportation option, even outside peak commuting hours. More reliable and more frequent service from an electrified train will also create more opportunities to be connected to jobs throughout the region, resulting in consistent economic development for the Environmental Justice Corridor.
There are only benefits to transitioning to an electric regional rail. As we consider the future of the state we want to live in, a cleaner, faster and better commuter rail must be a core part of that vision. And with historic funding opportunities available for initial investments, there has never been a better time to embark on the transition to electrification and a modern Massachusetts.
The moment is here. Let’s meet it.
State Sen. Brendan Crighton represents the 3rd Essex District and is the chairperson of the Joint Committee on Transportation.
