GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Local residents and public officials gathered at the Olver Transit Center in Greenfield Monday afternoon to rally for a return of rail service to Boston.
The area’s Beacon Hill delegation last week sent a letter to state officials, including Governor Maura Healey, in support of the project, which would return rail service from northwest Massachusetts to Boston for the first time since the late 1950s.
The letter was signed by more than 100 different entities, including local municipal governments, area businesses, planning agencies, regional transit authorities, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and non-profits.
“In all my time living in this beautiful region, I have never seen such cross-county organizing,” said State Senator Jo Comerford. “It’s because we have an unparalleled prospect in front of us…a promise that we can unite our region from Berkshire to Franklin to northern Worcester County and into Boston.”
State Representative Natalie Blais served for the late U.S. Congressman John Olver, and said that seeing the project through to completion would be a fitting tribute.
“The only thing I have to say to you here today is let’s continue this work,” said Blais. “Let’s bring the train back to the Northern Tier Rail along Route 2, and let’s make John Olver proud.”