New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett) is pleased to announce an agreement with Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt to release $900,000 in local emergency response funding for additional safety equipment associated with the new South Coast Rail service in 2024.
The agreement arose from a renewed request from the Representative during a meeting with the Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng yesterday, October 11. This money originated as an amendment filed by the Representative with support of the South Coast delegation and was authorized in the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill.
The idea, however, for providing train related safety equipment directly to area Fire and EMS Departments belongs to New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger and the other regional Chiefs from Fall River and Taunton as well as the leaders of locals with the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.
The region’s Chiefs and department members are now updating the specific item list for purchase of the safety and extraction equipment that should be available for train related emergency response as needed.
“All of my fellow legislative colleagues from the region have been determined in their advocacy for this emergency response equipment including particularly, Senator Michael Rodrigues, and Representative Carole Fiola,” said Rep. Straus. “Thank you to Secretary Tibbits-Nutt in her role on behalf of the Healey-Driscoll administration.”
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