Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation, Sierra Club Massachusetts, veena.dharmaraj@sierraclub.org
Boston, MA - Last night, Governor Baker signed a transportation bond bill with over $11 billion in funding for a wide range of clean transportation projects, including making streets safer for biking and walking, investing in fare-free bus pilot programs, electrifying buses and commuter rail, cleaning up pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, building out electric vehicle charging infrastructure, promoting e-bikes as a replacement for car trips through rebates, and repair our bridges and roads.
Unfortunately, before signing, Governor Baker added two amendments related to electrification of the commuter rail. One amendment urges the use of battery electric trains for commuter rail. There are no battery trains in passenger service in North America yet and the MBTA has not released any data to support that only battery train technology is the way forward on electrification.
A second amendment removed a bill provision that would have required no diesel locomotives after December 31, 2030.
In response to the passage of the transportation bond bill, Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter, released the following statement:
“This transportation bill unlocks billions of dollars in funding for clean transportation projects that will help cut climate pollution from vehicles, improve air quality for communities across the state, and invest in biking and pedestrian infrastructure for residents to get around without relying on cars. The Commonwealth must put this funding to immediate use for critical projects such as electrification, climate resilience, and safety of our transit system, as well as prioritize the implementation of the e-bike incentive program.
“We are extremely disappointed in the addition of two amendments related to commuter rail that keeps us indefinitely locked into polluting diesel locomotives and specifically pushes for battery train technology for the electrification of the commuter rail network. We should be considering all electrification technologies, including overhead catenary wires, that will support rapid, reliable, safe, and frequent all-day transit service that we need. Considering the ongoing service issues at the MBTA, any technology decisions should factor in system reliability and performance that are central to retaining rider confidence and promoting mode shift.
“We will also continue to push for a low-income fare program and additional sustained levels of funding to ensure that all Massachusetts residents have access to a non-polluting and accessible transportation system.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.