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H 3654

An Act relative to restoring commuter rail to Cape Cod

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 24 co-sponsors

Mandates a feasibility study and a concrete start date for year-round Cape Cod–Boston rail service, plus options on Cape Cod Canal Bridge ownership or replacement.

Accompanied a new draft, see H5277
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Bill Summary · H 3654

Summary: H. 3654 — An Act relative to restoring commuter rail to Cape Cod

Aims to study and begin year-round commuter rail service linking Cape Cod communities to Boston, and to consider infrastructure ownership changes related to the Cape Cod Canal region.

What the bill would do

  • Establish a state-led feasibility study (Massachusetts Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the MBTA) to evaluate year-round, daily rail service from Cape Cod towns to Boston via the Cape Cod line, the Hyannis Branch, and the Woods Hole Branch.
  • The study would be conducted in partnership with the New England District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and should build on and complement the Cape Rail Study of 2021.
  • The bill also requires the study to assess ownership options for the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge (including possible transfer of ownership from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and the feasibility of replacing the bridge with a stationary structure.

Key provisions and areas of analysis

The study must examine and quantify:
- Capital costs and infrastructure upgrades, including tracks, signaling, and station improvements on Cape Cod, as well as upgrades at MBTA facilities (e.g., Middleboro) to enable direct access from Buzzards Bay to Boston.
- An operating and maintenance plan for Cape Cod rail access.
- The feasibility and requirements for high-speed rail on existing rights of way, plus any other operational considerations.
- Environmental and community impacts, with specific attention to environmental justice populations (as defined in General Laws, section 62 of chapter 30).
- Potential funding sources: federal, state, local, and private sector investments for both capital and ongoing operations and maintenance.
- First- and last-mile connections within the Cape Cod rail system, including Cape-only routes.
- Implications for commuting patterns in the service area when setting schedules.
- Steps needed to position the Commonwealth for any available federal funding.
- Overall costs and benefits of Cape Cod Canal Bridge ownership or replacement options.

What would be required and by when

  • Reporting timeline: The Department of Transportation must file the study findings with House and Senate clerks and committee chairs no later than 9 months after the act’s effective date.
  • Implementation timeline: Not later than 12 months after the act’s effective date, the MBTA must begin year-round commuter service between Buzzards Bay and South Station (via the Cape Cod line). Service must run at least 3 AM Peak trips and 3 PM Peak trips on weekdays, with schedules aligned where feasible to servicing patterns.

Who and what is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Cape Cod residents, workers, and visitors who would gain year-round rail access to Boston.
  • Agencies involved: Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and MBTA, in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers (for the bridge and related infrastructure).
  • Stakeholders include communities across Falmouth, Bourne, Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Sandwich, as well as Cape Cod Canal infrastructure interests.

Legislative status and timeline

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to: Committee on Transportation (Feb 27, 2025).
  • Similar measure previously filed: HD 898 (replacing).
  • Hearing: Scheduled for September 16, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in room B-2.
  • Sponsors: Primary sponsors Kip A. Diggs and Thomas W. Moakley, with a broad list of cosponsors.

Bottom line

H. 3654 seeks to move from study to action by mandating a comprehensive feasibility assessment and a concrete start date for year-round Cape Cod–Boston commuter rail service, while also exploring bridge ownership and replacement options that could affect long-term infrastructure planning and funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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