FALL RIVER – An environmental study critical to the extension of commuter rail service to New Bedford and Fall River has been delayed until at least June, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Friday.
The Corps said the delay of the study, which had been slated to be released around Labor Day, was the result of information the agency received from the state.
With that in hand, the Corps – which is involved because the project would involve filling in waterways and wetlands – will now review the environmental impact of connecting Boston to New Bedford and Fall River.
The environmental impact study (EIS) will outline the project’s impacts and suggest an exact route for the rail line, which has been supported by some officials as a boon to economic development but opposed by some residents who fear the trains’ impact on their communities.
“We are reviewing the data and have already begun drafting the EIS,” said Larry Rosenberg, chief, public affairs, of the Corps’ New England District. “Now that we have received all the data we can complete writing the Draft EIS with input from the federal cooperating agencies, complete our final review, provide it to MassDOT to complete the [Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act] requirements, and publish the document for public review and comment.”
In a news release, Rosenberg said the June delivery time was a “ballpark” estimate and could change depending on what information is received from state and federal agencies. Once the Corps releases a draft, a public comment period would start before the document’s final adoption.
Mass. Gov. Deval L. Patrick has promised to bring the new train service online by 2016. In September, Massachusetts officials reached a $100 million agreement with freight railroad company CSX Corp. to purchase tracks needed for the project.
Additional information is available at southcoastrail.com.
