Rising Cost of South Coast Rail Prompts Second Look at Middleboro Route

A press briefing puts a new pricetag on the South Coast Rail project.

Project officials and MassDOT told the public today that the South Coast Rail project, as it stands, would cost the state $3.4 billion, over $1 billion more than previous estimates placed the project at. Officials say if it ever were to be fully funded, it wouldn't be completed until at least 2030.

The South Coast Rail project has been tabled by MassDOT indefinitely.

However, project officials will be making the case for the much more affordable Middleboro route, which could cost nearly $200 million for rehabilitation of already existing rail lines. The only catch to that route is it would extend travel time by about twenty minutes when compared to the Stoughton route.

The alternative route is being presented to the MBTA Fiscal Management Control Board Monday afternoon.