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SD 1044

Resolve directing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of extending the orange line

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Rush

Direct MassDOT to study the feasibility of extending the Orange Line from Malden to Boston via Roslindale Village, with a 120-day report to lawmakers.

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Bill Summary · SD 1044

Summary: Senate Resolve — SD 1044 (Orange Line Extension Feasibility)

Overview

  • Bill: Resolve directing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of extending the Orange Line.
  • Bill number: SD 1044 (Senate Docket No. 1044; Senate No. 2442)
  • Introduced: January 15, 2025 (Filed in the 194th General Court; presented by Sen. Michael F. Rush)
  • Purpose: Commission a formal feasibility study on extending MBTA’s Orange Line from its current terminus at Oak Grove in Malden toward Boston, with a focus on connecting to a MBTA rail station through Roslindale Village.

What the bill would do

  • Direct MassDOT to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on extending rapid transit service from Malden to Boston, specifically extending the Orange Line to pass through Roslindale Village in the Roslindale section of Boston.
  • The study would consider extending Orange Line service or alternative rapid transit expansions using existing rights of way and other operational configurations.

Study scope and key evaluation areas

The bill outlines a thorough set of questions MassDOT must examine, including:
- Capital costs: projected construction and related capital expenses.
- Operating costs and revenues: ongoing operating costs and potential revenue implications.
- Ridership projections: estimated future usage and demand.
- Rights of way and operations: feasibility of using existing rights of way and other logistical/operational issues.
- Environmental and community impacts: anticipated ecological effects and community considerations.
- Funding sources: availability of federal, state, local, and private funding options.
- Regional equity: how investments would affect rapid transit equity across the Commonwealth.
- Economic, social, and cultural benefits: potential positive impacts on Boston neighborhoods and the Commonwealth overall.

Timeline and reporting

  • MassDOT must file a report with:
    • The clerks of the Massachusetts House and Senate
    • The chairs of the House and Senate Ways and Means committees
    • The Senate and House chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation
  • Deadline: no later than 120 days after passage of the act.

Potential impact and beneficiaries

  • Aims to inform future decisions on rapid transit expansion in the Boston area, particularly the viability and desirability of extending the Orange Line.
  • Could influence planning for equity-focused investment in transit, potential economic development, and neighborhood connectivity, especially for areas along a Malden-to-Boston corridor including Roslindale Village.
  • No funding appropriation is specified in the text; the act focuses on directing a feasibility study and reporting.

Status and sponsor

  • Sponsor: Sen. Michael F. Rush (Norfolk and Suffolk district)
  • Status: Proposed bill/resolve filed in January 2025; presents a directive to MassDOT to study rather than an appropriation or immediate construction authorization.

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

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