South Coast commuter rail pilloried by communities along route

BROCKTON – Opposition to the South Coast commuter rail project is brewing in a number of the communities that the trains are likely to pass through, according to the Brockton Enterprise.
The outcry – which stems from public meetings held in Raynham, Stoughton and Easton – is focused on what appears to be the leading candidate for the route to connect Fall River and New Bedford to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail network.
Opponents are worried about environmental damage, as well as the destruction of historic districts in towns along the route. In addition, people who live along the proposed route are concerned about being disturbed by noise from passing trains.
The plan, which calls for 11 rail stations, estimates that the project will create thousands of new jobs, generating roughly $500 million in new economic activity and increasing household income by more than $150 million.