The administration of Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray is undertaking the South Coast Rail project to improve transportation between downtown Boston and the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The project includes a Smart Growth Corridor Plan to develop a blueprint for economic and residential development, job creation and environmental preservation as the communities welcome and shape new growth.

The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) completed Phase 1 of the project in April 2008.  With significant public input, EOT generated a list of 65 alternatives that were analyzed, screened and narrowed to a list of five alternatives with mode options.  These alternatives are entering Phase 2, a combined state and federal environmental review that will take place over a two-year period.  The state and federal documents that kick off the formal review process – the Environmental Notification Form/ENF and the federal Notice of Intent/NOI – will be filed this fall (September-October 2008).  EOT will seek public comment on these documents.  

To further this effort, EOT and the MBTA have launched the most comprehensive and transparent planning process to date to evaluate transportation alternatives for the South Coast region.  We hope you will join us in this process.  Please visit this website for project updates, documents and fact sheets.  You can also comment on the project or ask questions at SHARE YOUR OPINIONS.