Fall River voters have 'a final checkbox' before South Coast Rail trains can start running

Dan Medeiros, The Herald News
·3 min read

FALL RIVER — South Coast Rail is running right on schedule with an ETA of late 2023. But before the first commuter train leaves the station for Boston, Fall River voters will need to check one last item off the itinerary.

Fall River will need to approve a ballot question that asks voters whether the city should officially be part the MBTA's service delivery area. It's just procedure, but it’ll have to be done soon if the city wants service up and running next year.

By statute — Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XXII, Chapter 161A, Section 6 — communities must have voters’ approval before joining the MBTA’s service area. According to Mayor Paul Coogan, a question will appear on the November ballot.

“It’s just a formality we have to go through," Coogan said.

Two stations are currently under construction in the city: Fall River Depot, at Davol and Pearce streets, and the Weaver’s Cove Layover station. Fall River Depot will have over 500 parking spaces for commuters; Weaver’s Cove is a station for storage, crew facilities and maintenance only.

Crews work on the South Coast Rail project at the end of Aton Street in Fall River Monday.
Crews work on the South Coast Rail project at the end of Aton Street in Fall River Monday.

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A third station is planned at Battleship Cove as part of South Coast Rail’s full build phase, estimated to be complete in 2030.

Another rail station is being built in Freetown on Main Road. According to state Rep. Carole Fiola, Freetown voters won't have the same ballot question — Freetown is already an MBTA community because it’s adjacent to Lakeville, which hosts a commuter rail stop.

Construction work is ongoing at what will become Fall River Depot, part of the South Coast Rail project, on Pearce Street on Oct. 14, 2021.
Construction work is ongoing at what will become Fall River Depot, part of the South Coast Rail project, on Pearce Street on Oct. 14, 2021.

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Fall River has no cost to join the MBTA

Communities that join the MBTA service delivery area are charged an assessment to maintain and operate the service; however, cities and towns served by a regional transportation authority have their contribution credited to their MBTA assessment. Fall River is served by the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, so therefore the city won’t need to pay an MBTA assessment.

“It’s no cost to the city in any way, shape, or form,” Coogan said. “We already pay our contribution.”

New Bedford voters are in the same boat. And like Fall River, New Bedford is served by SRTA so won't need to pay an MBTA assessment.

Construction equipment sits on the site of the Weaver's Cove layover facility, part of the South Coast Rail project.
Construction equipment sits on the site of the Weaver's Cove layover facility, part of the South Coast Rail project.

“It’s like a final checkbox. … It’s apparently just a procedure,” Fiola said. “I can clearly tell you there will not be a penny from any Fall River resident or taxpayer.”

Coogan said his office and the Board of Elections will be issuing some more information after the Sept. 6 primary about the need to approve the ballot question.

"We’ve cried for 30 years," Fiola said. “The region has screamed for rail. We have it. … There are people who still don’t realize this is real. This is happening, and this is what we wanted.”

Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River voters to see South Coast Rail ballot question in November