Downtown Boston rail link could be built more cheaply, study says
The price tag for constructing a long-discussed north-south rail link between Boston’s North and South stations is now estimated at $4 billion to $6 billion, much less than prior estimates. That’s according to a group of Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) students and faculty who calculated current project costs from federal data on modern tunneling technologies. The study could bring fresh momentum to efforts to persuade state lawmakers to move forward with the project, which analysts say would greatly improve downtown traffic flow for those commuting through the city. A North-South Rail Connector for Boston A group of Harvard Kennedy School students and faculty calculated that a Downtown Boston rail link could be built more cheaply than previously thought. Video by Jacob Beizer According to the new research, the project could cost $6 billion for a “maximum build,” which would include four tracks, two tunnels, and three stations. The price...