Design, Construction OK'd For Western Mass. Rail

State officials say final design and construction plans have been approved for high-speed rail in western Massachusetts.

U.S. Reps. John Olver and Richard Neal and Sen. John Kerry and federal and state transportation officials said Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation signed a nearly $73 million grant agreement. Funding is available from federal stimulus money.

Officials say the project, which is expected to cost $75.6 million, will rehabilitate the Connecticut River rail line. Amtrak's Vermonter service will be rerouted to the line, providing a more direct route to Northampton and Greenfield.

Connecticut is working on a 62-mile high-speed rail project from New Haven, Conn., to Springfield. The state expects to finish design work in 2013 and launch service in 2016.