New Bedford (Finally) Welcomes South Coast Rail Service

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Despite biting winds and heavy rain, New Bedford celebrated the opening of its very own Commuter Rail service with a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning at the station at the Whale's Tooth parking lot.

Senator Mark Montigny of New Bedford summed things up quite simply during his speech at the 10 a.m. ceremony to officially launch South Coast Rail service connecting New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton to Boston.

“We’ve waited 32 years for this, I couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “I live here, this isn’t just my job, this is my home.”

Mayor Jon Mitchell echoed the sentiment of a long wait, but a wait that could have significant rewards.

“This event speaks for itself. Public transit between cities leads to economic development,” he said. “New Bedford and Boston haven’t been connected by any public transportation since the ‘50s. The Commuter Rail will make a big difference for not just New Bedford, but for Boston, too.”

Mitchell also acknowledged the hard work and time put into the project by everyone involved, emphasizing that good things come to those who wait.

“Good things don’t happen automatically. The commuter rail is proof that sometimes, it requires people sticking to it for a long time. This took a lot of work,” he said.

Mitchell went on to acknowledge the roles that multiple state government administrations have taken in the process of building South Coast Rail, likening it to a drive down the football field.

“Governor (Deval) Patrick’s administration caught the kickoff and gave it a good return, Governor (Charlie) Baker’s administration drove the ball down the field, and Governor (Maura) Healey’s administration punched it over the goal line,” he said.

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Montigny, during his speech, similarly spoke about the long process of getting South Coast Rail across the metaphorical goal line.

“Baker and Healey’s administrations deserve the credit for pushing this across the goal line,” he said. “Every mayor I worked with in this long process as well. They have always listened.”

Montigny also emphasized the need to care for South Coast Rail and make sure things run smoothly now that the project is finally complete.

“I remember being told that ‘you’d be the father of South Coast Rail,’ and the one thing you don’t want to be is a deadbeat dad,” he said.

READ MORE: New Bedford's Official Schedule for South Coast Rail Service

State Representative Tony Cabral kept his words brief, but expressed thanks to the people of New Bedford for their patience.

“I’m skipping 30 years of stories today. Thank you, people of New Bedford, for keeping our feet to the fire. We’ve won this fight,” he said. “The people of New Bedford deserve a lot of credit.”

State Representative Chris Markey was similarly brief, but expressed his thanks to the workers while emphasizing the role respect had in the completion of South Coast Rail.

“This only was completed through continuity of government, and that only happens through respect. Thank you to all the workers, the union guys, who worked on this project,” he said.

READ MORE: New Bedford's New Pedestrian Bridge Lights the Way to the Future

State Representative Mark Sylvia also was quick in his speech, but expressed his thanks as well.

“As the newest member of the delegation, I thought I might have to be profound. But the more I thought about it, a simple thank you seems most appropriate,” he said.

Massachusetts State Secretary of Transportation Monica Tibbits-Nutt said she had rarely ever seen so many levels of government work so well together to get things done.

“Rarely do you see so many levels of government work together so well for such a big project. Thank you," she said.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll closed the ceremony by expressing thanks to everyone who had worked on South Coast Rail during its long development.

“Thanks to all who built this, everyone who laid the rails down, for making a meaningful impact from here all the way up to Boston,” she said.

The ceremony closed with the delegates boarding the commuter rail from the New Bedford station for the very first time, marking the end of the long, multi-administration process of bringing the MBTA to the SouthCoast.