in the 1980s, the state began considering the expansion of mbta commuter rail service to the south coast cities of taunton, fall river, and new bedford. y 1988, the mbta was tentatively planning to extend service to taunton via stoughton and the former dighton and somerset. the first serious study, completed in january 1990, concluded that the stoughton branch was the most viable route. the march 1995 "expanded feasibility study" concluded that both the stoughton and attleboro routes would be viable and that a partial stoughton branch extension to north easton would be most cost-effective. a route through attleboro was nearly built beginning in 1995; however, in 1997 the "expanded alternatives analysis" showed vastly increased costs - $410m via attleboro, $426m via stoughton, or $312m via middleborough. the report recommended the stoughton route as the most cost-effective due to its high ridership, despite the higher cost.