Select Board supports Senator Lesser’s push for high-speed rail

July 20, 2017 | Payton North
payton@thereminder.com



LONGMEADOW – Last week the Longmeadow Select Board discussed their allegiance to State Senator Eric Lesser’s push to have a high-speed rail feasibility study conducted in 2018 after the board received word that the conference committee rejected the proposal.

At the July 10 meeting the Select Board made comments in support of the study and referenced their disappointment that the high-speed rail study was off the table.

Longmeadow Town Manager Stephen Crane noted that the implementation of high-speed rail in Western Massachusetts would economically benefit the area.

“I do think that it was an important study for this region for the long-term economic viability,” Crane said.

The Select Board decided to reach out to Lesser’s office in an effort to hear what Lesser would like the town to do to show their support.  

At the July 17 meeting following correspondence with Lesser’s office, the Select Board revealed that there is a bill supporting the high-speed rail study that’s currently in front of the Transportation Committee.

“He has a bill that does the same thing, and it’s sitting in the Transportation Committee.  The resolution would be going to the Transportation Committee and anyone else we wanted to go to, federal as well as the Governor,” Board Member Marie Angelides said.

The Select Board voted unanimously in favor of sending a letter regarding their support of the high-speed rail feasibility study to the Transportation Committee and Gov. Charlie Baker, as well as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Edward Markey and Congressman Richard Neal.

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