State to hire consultant for rail extension project
BOSTON (AP) -- The state is taking a first step toward extending the commuter rail line to Fall River and New Bedford.
Transportation officials say they�re looking to hire an expert to investigate the permitting required before extending the line to the SouthCoast region.
Construction is still years away. The region likely won�t get the rail service before 2010.
MassHighway officials say they�ve asked for public bids, in hopes of hiring a permit consultant in the fall.
SouthCoast officials have complained for years that the state unfairly delayed the project.
The region�s elected leaders threatened to block Governor Mitt Romney�s funding of a new Sagamore rotary unless he agreed to hire the permit expert.
The governor has earmarked more than $650 million for the overall project, but hasn�t set any construction timeline.
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