Massachusetts is
due to receive about $75 million in settlement money from VW as a result of their diesel emissions cheating scandal. This money is earmarked, more or less, for replacing diesel vehicles or transportation systems with new diesel, alternative fuel, or electric vehicles/systems.
Rhode Island is
using their $14.4 million to "replace public buses that run on diesel fuel with electric vehicles, and to install high-speed electric vehicle charging stations."
It seems to me electrifying part of the commuter rail would be a perfect use for these funds. How far would $75 million get you to electrifying the Commuter Rail along the Providence Line? How about the Fairmount Line? Would $75 million at least be a legit down-payment? How much does an EMU train set cost?
My reading of the terms of the settlement is a bit murky, but I'd think that electrification definitely fits the spirit of the settlement. Replacing locomotives, at least, definitely fits the letter of it too.
Is this something TransitMatters could make noise about?