Rail line would be good for swamp
I'm responding to your article on the controversy over a commuter rail extension to Fall River and New Bedford ("State starts over on rail extension," Sept. 16, Globe South). The article says that some communities have campaigned against the Stoughton line extension for fear it would bring urban sprawl to a still-rural part of the region and hurt ecosystems, in particular the Hockomock Swamp in Easton.
In fact, if the train from Stoughton were ever put through to Fall River, the Hockomock Swamp would be helped. The trees cleared from the right of way would allow more water to stay in the swamp rather than being siphoned off by the trees. At Quabbin Reservoir, they cut down stands of trees to stop the trees from taking the water. Take out the rail bed, Route 138, and Route 24, and the swamp would disappear off the maps, for these things act like dams to keep the water in the swamp.
And all the people taking the train through the swamp every day seeing flora and fauna might become more appreciative of the swamp environment.
The train would only benefit the swamp.
Don Schwarz
Stoughton 