Moulton Applauds Harvard Kennedy School Study on North South Rail Link, Highlights Nearly $40 Billion in Total Benefits for Massachusetts

SALEM, MA - Today, the Harvard Kennedy School released a comprehensive cost-benefit economic analysis of building the North South Rail Link, finding that the Rail Link would provide an estimated $36.9 billion in total benefits for the Commonwealth at full build.

The North South Rail Link is a proposed one mile long underground tunnel that would connect North Station and South Station in Boston. The full build proposal for the project would connect the two stations with two tunnels holding two tracks each, alongside a new Central Station in Downtown Boston adjacent to the Aquarium Blue Line station.

Congressman Moulton has been working with the Kennedy School since 2017 to study the Rail Link; this study is the culmination of those efforts and details ridership growth, modeshift from cars to trains, improved job access, and development opportunities.

The study found that Rail Link would transform Greater Boston and unify the region, massively expanding access to jobs by reducing commute times, slashing wait times for each line, incentivizing transit-oriented development (including desperately-needed housing) near stations and driving massive ridership gains.

Residents would have significantly more freedom to find housing across the region and would save hours each week by avoiding Boston traffic. Commuters living on Northside rail lines-assuming a full build, regional rail, and electrification-would be able to access 147% (136,600) more jobs within one hour on average, while Southside line commuters would be able to access 26% (40,000) more jobs within one hour on average. The average station wait time would be slashed from 34 minutes to less than 10.

"For decades, we've talked about the North South Rail Link as a nice idea for the future, but this study proves it's an economic necessity for the present," said Congressman Moulton. "This project would bring nearly $40 billion in benefits for Massachusetts, and would bring more jobs, shorter commutes, and less time stuck in traffic for families across Massachusetts. This is how we grow our economy, create good-paying jobs, and make Massachusetts a place where people can afford to live, work, and build a future. The case for the North South Rail Link has never been stronger. It's time to build it."

"This is the first major study to examine the economic benefits of the NSRL-not just the costs," said Linda Bilmes, Daniel Patrick Moynihan Chair in Public Policy and Public Finance, Harvard Kennedy School. "Our research shows that the benefits outweigh the costs by a large margin that grows over time. Great public projects begin with people imagining bold ideas. Governors Michael Dukakis and William Weld, along with countless other leaders in Massachusetts, have long shared the vision of a fully connected regional rail system. Congressman Seth Moulton is inspiring a new generation to carry that vision forward.

"Our research found that a North-South Rail Link would create jobs, open up housing, connect people to opportunity and reinvigorate Greater Boston for future generations. After decades of asking whether we can do this, perhaps the better question is: why not?"

"Instead of your train reaching the end of the line at South Station, just imagine it continuing through Boston and connecting you to the entire northern half of the system. Our study puts numbers around those benefits-and finds a compelling economic case for what is really a pretty simple idea." said Brian Iammartino, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Congressman Moulton will continue to advocate for the construction of the North South Rail Link to bring massive transit-oriented development to Massachusetts and to reduce commute times for many.

The full report can be found here.

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