MBTA says there's no cost to Fall River taxpayers as South Coast Rail gets ready to roll

Jo C. Goode, The Herald News
·4 min read

FALL RIVER — In November, Fall River voters will be asked a direct question of whether they wish to be added to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, a legal requirement before the opening of the new South Coast Rail passenger service to Boston, set for late 2023.

Recent social media chatter has questioned the cost of MBTA membership to Fall River taxpayers, which also prompted City Councilor Michelle Dionne to file a resolution this week asking the MBTA for more details.

On Tuesday, an MBTA official responded to The Herald News with a request for clarification on the November ballot question and what it means to Fall River.

'A final checkbox': Fall River voters have to issue approval before South Coast Rail trains can start running

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.

Why Fall River would pay nothing

According to state statute, which outlines the formula, communities with commuter rail service pay an assessment to the MBTA.

However, Fall River will not have to pay any money to the MBTA.

Joe Pesaturo, MBTA's director of communications, explained by email that under the formula, Fall River’s projected MBTA assessment would be $900,000 annually. But the statute says when a community pays into a regional transportation authority, 100% of that amount is "credited against its share of the assessment."

Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail plan will continue service from Middleboro, splitting in Berkley to separate lines going to Fall River and New Bedford.
Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail plan will continue service from Middleboro, splitting in Berkley to separate lines going to Fall River and New Bedford.

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The city pays into the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, or SRTA, which provides public bus transportation to the region. Fall River pays SRTA about $1.5 million annually.

“Meaning the City of Fall River's payment more than covers the MBTA assessment,” said Pesaturo.

If voters approve the November ballot question to open the Fall River passenger rail line, the city would also be included as a member of the MBTA Advisory Board, which among its duties reviews the public transportation agency’s annual budget.

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After years of waiting, Gov. Charlie Baker, along with many other state and local politicians, break ground on South Coast Rail off of Chace Road in Freetown in 2019.
After years of waiting, Gov. Charlie Baker, along with many other state and local politicians, break ground on South Coast Rail off of Chace Road in Freetown in 2019.

What a 'no' vote would mean

Phase I of the South Coast Rail project is reportedly on schedule, which will extend the existing Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail service from Boston to Fall River, Taunton and New Bedford sometime in the fourth quarter of 2023. In the city, that means new tracks, stations, bridges, and a layover facility at Weaver's Cove. 

By the state statute, the MBTA accepts new communities into its service area only in January, so a community has to approve joining the MBTA before then. Fall River would have to agree to join the MBTA a year before service would be available.

So, what if voters refuse to join the MBTA?

Pesaturo referred to a letter written by the MBTA to Mayor Paul Coogan’s administration back in July.

The letter states clearly that no rail service would be provided to Fall River until the requirements of the state statute to join the MBTA are met. 

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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.

Dionne’s resolution

On Tuesday, during a break at the City Council meeting, Dionne said the purpose of her resolution asking for an explanation of the MBTA ballot question was that Fall River voters were being asked to “say yes or no to a serious question, blind.”

“There is no summary, there is no pros, there is no cons. No explanation of the ramifications or no ramifications of either side of the vote,” said Dionne, who said she hadn’t been informed yet of MBTA’s explanation of the financial impact, or lack thereof, on city taxpayers.

While Dionne said it was good that the MBTA has given a definitive explanation of what it would mean for the city to join, she had another concern.

“How do we get it to the general public?” said Dionne.

Get information from the MBTA directly

Coincidentally, the MBTA announced Monday that it will hold a public forum in Fall River with updates on the South Coast Rail line's progress. That forum is set for Oct. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Morton Middle School on North Main Street, just up the road from the new Fall River Depot train station on Davol Street.

After the presentation, South Coast Rail officials will be on hand to answer questions from the public.

Jo C. Goode may be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: MBTA: Fall River has no assessment for South Coast Rail Service in '23