Early spring foliage in the Hockomock

For more information:

Statement from the
Taunton River Watershed Campaign

Taunton River Watershed Alliance

The Nature Conservancy

Click here and follow the link
to comment letters filed with the State

 

  South Coast Rail Line Planned,
  through Sensitive Wetlands

For approximately $1.4 billion, the MBTA is planning a major extension of its commuter rail system from Boston through
S.E. Mass. to New Bedford and Fall River.
Benefits identified by the MBTA include enhanced access to public transportation and regional economic growth and development. The Commonwealth is conducting a land use study in the project corridor and to work with the affected communities to plan both for areas that need protection and those that are most well-suited to dense development (i.e. Smart Growth). Environmental review is underway under both the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The “Stoughton” alternative would construct a rail line through the center of the Hockomock Swamp, the largest freshwater wetland in the state.
The Hockomock is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) supporting numerous state-listed rare and endangered species. Other areas that would potentially be impacted by the project include the Pine Swamp, Assonet Cedar Swamp (Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary), and Acushnet Cedar Swamp (Department of Conservation and Recreation reservation and a National Natural Landmark).

Freight lines already exist in the Assonet and Acushnet sections of the project corridor, but they would need to be upgraded with potential impacts to adjoining wetlands and waterways. Other alternatives under consideration include routing the northern portion of the project through Middleborough or providing bus rapid transit on existing highway corridors.

Will this project actually promote Smart Growth?
Environmental groups generally support public transportation and Smart Growth. However, there are a number of concerns regarding the very high sensitivity of lands impacted by this project, the relatively priority of the project in relation to the many other underfunded state transportation infrastructure needs, and the degree to which the project will or will not actually promote Smart Growth in southeastern Massachusetts. Some of the issues associated with this project have far-reaching implications of interest to river advocates statewide.