The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is examining six options for east-west passenger rail.
Five of the plans revealed Tuesday by MassDOT would make various upgrades and improvements to an existing rail corridor now used primarily by freight trains.
One proposal is to construct a new high speed rail line that would run roughly parallel to I-90. It would allow for 16 train trips per day with a Springfield-Boston travel time of 80 minutes.
MassDOT did not announce a cost estimate for any of the proposals.
Democratic State Senator Eric Lesser of Longmeadow said the options are “exciting”
"The real takeaway here is: this is a feasible project," said Lesser. "This can happen if we marshall the political will, if we keep at it."
A final east-west rail feasibility study is due next year.
