Rail Upgrades For Foxborough MBTA Route Pegged at $10 Million, State Says

FOXBOROUGH, MA — New figures from the MBTA not only show that revenue from the pilot program at Gillette Stadium would cover only about 43 percent of the cost, but a high price for rail upgrades as well.

Monday, the MBTA revealed during a meeting of the fiscal and management control board that it will cost about $10 million to upgrade the rails between Foxborough and South Station. The price of the pilot program will run at about $950,000 and bring in $411,000 on fewer than 200 passengers a day, according to the Boston Globe. The Kraft Group has promised to contribute about $200,000 to the pilot program and 500 parking spots near the station.

State Senator James Timilty, a Democrat from Walpole, called the program “ill-conceived,” while Economic Development and Housing Secretary Jay Ash said the program could unlock economic development on Route 1.

Currently, commuter rail service to Foxborough only runs on Patriots game day and select concerts and soccer matches. The pilot, which will run for about a year, will see regular round trip service from the platform at Gillette Stadium to South Station in Boston.

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