Close to 70 years after the last train departed, southeastern Massachusetts is preparing to reconnect with Boston .
South Coast Rail, expected to launch public service in spring 2025 , promises to transform the job market, economic conditions and regional connectivity by restoring direct service to Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton, the only major cities within a 50-mile radius of the state capital that lack commuter rail access to the city, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
But for communities already grappling with housing affordability crises , the long-awaited rail link raises questions about who will benefit.
Housing advocates warn that the project could exacerbate a crisis for low-income families and push longtime residents out of their neighborhoods.
“Without thoughtful planning, the rail will benefit some people, but might also deepen existing inequities and perpetuate the current affordable housing crisis for lower-income residents,” said Judith Liben, a housing attorney at the Boston-based Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.