Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem has secured, as part of the $10 billion Transportation Bond Bill, $85 million to upgrade Newton’s three commuter rail stations in Auburndale, West Newton, and Newtonville. After these upgrades, the three Newton stations on the Framingham/Worcester line will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will have platforms serving both inbound and outbound tracks. The upgrade project depends on securing an additional $85 million of federal matching funds from the All Stations Accessibility Project as well as from the Community Project Funding in FY’23 appropriations requested by Congressman Jake Auchincloss.
In her newsletter, Senator Creem noted that the project will make significant improvements in “frequency and reliability of transit service in Newton, helping us reduce traffic congestion, deliver on the promise of transit-oriented development, and achieve our climate goals.” (The commuter rail stops eight times less frequently in Newton than in Wellesley.) She noted that upgrades to these stations will be a key component of the redevelopment of the Washington Street corridor.
Senator Creem thanked State Representative Kay Khan for her longtime advocacy for improvements to these commuter rail stations. All three stations are in Rep. Khan’s legislative district.
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