Newton Requests Ways & Means Committee Support For Transit Funding

NEWTON, MA — The Newton City Council has requested the support of the state’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means for the $85 million in Supplemental Budget Funding for the Commuter Rail Stations Accessibility project.

According to a letter sent from the City Council to Ways and Means Committee Chairs Michael Rodrigues and Aaron Michlewitz, the upgrades already have the support of Sen. Cynthia Creem, State Reps. Kay Khan, Ruth Balser, and John Lawn , Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, and Congressman Jake Auchincloss.

"It is not an overstatement to say that this project will be truly transformational – not only for Newton but for the entire MetroWest region,” the City Council wrote.

The letter asserts that the Commuter Rail Stations Accessibility project will support accessibility, allow for the development of housing along the Worcester line in support of the MBTA Communities Law, help the environment, and assist the whole Metrowest region.

The estimated construction cost for the three new stations is $170 million, according to the City Council, and the $85 million from the state would help Newton access federal matching funds from the All Stations Accessibility Program, established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

"We are grateful for your consideration of our strong support for this project, and our City Council
President Susan Albright and members from the relevant wards would be delighted to have the
opportunity to speak with you in more detail or even host you for a site visit of the stops in their current condition so you could see for yourself how dire the need is for significant upgrades,” the the letter says.

The supplemental budget, supported by state tax revenues that exceed FY22 benchmarks through April by $4.23 billion, proposes investments in transportation, housing, environmental infrastructure, economic development, child care and education initiatives. For more information, click here.