Groundbreaking for $55.5 Million Boston-Area Commuter Rail Extension

Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray recently joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Congressman John Olver (D-Mass.) to announce the groundbreaking for the $55.5 million Wachusett Commuter Rail Extension Project. The project will extend the Fitchburg commuter rail line by 4.5 miles to a new station. The $55.5 million project, , which is funded by a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, also includes track improvements to support freight and passenger rail and a new layover facility in the town of Westminster.

Maegen N. McCaffrey, executive director of the Wachusett Chamber of Commerce, located in the town of Clinton, said the commuter rail extension is great for the region.

"The track improvements and new layover facility are very positive for the area and should help to bring people to and from the North Central Massachusetts area," McCaffrey said. Though the commuter rail extension does not include a stop in Clinton, McCaffrey said the regional impacts of the project will have a trickle-down effect on all the towns in north central Massachusetts.

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