April 4, 2007

1. April 4, 2007

2. Project Description • The South Coast Rail Project will restore passenger rail transportation from South Station in Boston to the cities of Fall River and New Bedford.

4. Project Benefits • Extend commuter rail service to an underserved region with two urban areas having large immigrant and low-income populations. • Encourage economic development and job-creation through improved transportation access. • Develop an environment to attract new private investment to South Coast communities. • Provide Boston-area workers with better access to affordable housing. • Promote smart and sustainable growth. • Reduce automobile congestion contributing to improvements in mobility, productivity and air quality. • Create construction-related employment opportunities.

5. Action Item 1. Economic Development and Land Use Planning • The South Coast Rail Project provides significant economic development and land use opportunities for any of the major rail alignments. A successful strategy will: • Examine existing build-out studies for growth projections. • Analyze proposed station sites for ownership, current and proposed zoning and existing infrastructure. • Evaluate areas in the vicinity of proposed station sites for potential development opportunities. • Develop site-specific zoning tools to promote transit-oriented development. • Consider value-capture and other creative financing methods to support South Coast Rail. Schedule: April 2007 to end of project.

6. Action Item 2. Public Outreach • Project Advisory Group • Extensive and comprehensive outreach to stakeholders. • Continued engagement by the Patrick-Murray Administration • Project website: www.southcoastrail.com Schedule: Ongoing

8. Action Item 3. Right-of-Way Acquisition • EOT conducting ongoing negotiations with CSX for: • Fall River Secondary Line (Myricks Junction to Fall River-14.2 miles) • New Bedford Secondary Line (Cotley Junction to New Bedford-17.4 miles) • Segment of the Dartmouth Industrial Track (approximately six miles) Schedule: In Progress

9. Action Item 4. Project Design • Preliminary design has been initiated on common corridor segments. • Design will continue once preferred route is identified in an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS). • Conceptual Design (10-15%) • Preliminary Engineering (30%) • Final Design (60% then to 100%) • Terminal Layover Facilities-Fall River and New Bedford Schedule: April 2009 through April 2012

10. Action Item 5. Station Siting • Previous MBTA work has identified potential sites for the extension south of Taunton. • Southeastern Mass. Commuter Rail Task Force has considered sites for additional stations. • Design process will lead to ultimate decision on station sitings. Schedule: Part of design.

11. Action Item 6. Environmental Permitting • The Stoughton alignment was identified based on the 2002 state environmental review/MEPA process. • Alternatives evaluated included the Stoughton, Attleboro and Middleborough branches. • Final selection of a preferred alternative will result from the Alternatives Analysis conducted as part of the combined federal EIS and state EIR process. • The federal review will be extensive and could include up to nine permits. Schedule: EIR/EIS, April 2007 through September 2009 Project permitting, April 2009 through April 2012

12. Action Item 7. Project Construction • Construction will include track rehabilitation, replacement of numerous bridges, and construction of stations and terminal layover facilities. • Some infrastructure improvements have already been completed including rehabilitation of bridges along the Fall River and New Bedford corridors. • Cities of Fall River and New Bedford have constructed some potential parking spaces and access elements to proposed station sites. Schedule: April 2012 through October 2016

13. Action Item 8. Vehicle Procurement • South Coast Rail will require new locomotives and passenger coaches to supplement the MBTA’s existing fleet. • New vehicles will be purchased in conjunction with an existing MBTA vehicle procurement • The new locomotives will use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and will meet or exceed EPA regulations. Schedule: April 2011 through April 2015

14. Action Item 9. South Station Capacity • South Coast Rail will require additional track capacity (approximately four new tracks) at South Station. • The United States Postal Service’s facility near South Station will be relocated to provide space to increase track capacity. • Negotiations between USPS and the Massachusetts Port Authority about movement of the facility to South Boston are ongoing. • USPS development of air rights at its previous location must account for a minimum of four additional tracks. Schedule: USPS estimates that relocation will take four years after the conclusion of negotiations. The construction of additional track capacity will take twelve to eighteen months.

15. Action Item 10. Midday Layover Facility • Further expansion of southside commuter rail service requires a midday layover facility in Boston. • The initial review of sites will be revisited and new locations will be identified. Schedule: July 2010 through December 2015

17. Capital Costs by Action Item

18. Options For Expediting the Project/Reducing Costs • Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build • Inter-agency Permitting Task Force • Route 24 overhead bridge-Freetown • Material Procurement-rails, ties, signal equipment. • Expediting vehicle delivery by exercising an option on an MBTA procurement

19. Next Steps • Pursue economic development and land use planning. • Implement an inclusive and comprehensive public outreach campaign. • Acquire all necessary rail right-of-way and any ancillary property. • Determine preferred alignment through EIR/EIS and complete design and permitting. • Construct all rail infrastructure including terminal facilities in Fall River and New Bedford. • Procure necessary locomotives and passenger coaches. • Expand track-capacity at South Station. • Site and construct a new midday layover facility.