After two years of study, MassDOT is out with a draft report on what it would take to connect western and eastern Massachusetts by passenger rail.
Building a Pittsfield to Boston passenger rail line would cost $2.4 billion to $4.6 billion, depending on which options are included.
Ridership estimates for the rail service fall well below what would be needed to qualify the project for federal funding.
Democratic State Senator Eric Lesser of Longmeadow, a longtime proponent of east-west rail said he’s not discouraged.
"It's a big breakthrough to have this report issued, but we still have a long way to go," said Lesser.
MassDOT is holding a public hearing on the report via Zoom starting at 6 tonight. People who want to comment in writing can do so until Nov. 19th.