Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, MBTA GM Phillip Eng, and MBTA workers and riders celebrated the completion of the T’s Track Improvement Program and the removal of slow zones for the first time in 20 years. 

Since 2023, the MBTA removed more than 220 speed restrictions and replaced 250,000 feet of rail across the system, saving riders 2.4 million minutes every weekday and generating nearly $1 million in economic benefit every day.

“Thank you to our workforce for their diligence, and to our riders for their patience throughout the process. I also want to acknowledge Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for their leadership and support of our workforce,” said Eng. “Our goal is to continue the positive momentum by focusing on accessibility and signal upgrades in 2025, as well as staying on top of preventative maintenance to ensure the T delivers safe, reliable, and frequent service to best serve the public today as we build for future generations.”

The T Track Improvement Program

The Track Improvement Program has been a bold and ambitious initiative to eliminate speed restrictions across the subway system and bring the MBTA's tracks closer towards a State of Good Repair. 

With the completion of the Green Line, the MBTA subway system has undergone key track upgrades, including the replacement of over 15,400 feet of full depth track reconstruction, the replacement of approximately 38,000 ties, the installation of nearly 251,500 feet of new rail, and the performance of nearly 325,000 feet of tamping.   

The major achievement was made possible by 23 full-access closures across various lines throughout the year, ranging from weekend closures to several days or even weeks of work. These closures allowed for safe and efficient construction, ultimately enhancing the safety of riders and workers alike while improving reliability and reducing delays. 

Uninterrupted work was a key factor in the expeditious completion of the project. 

Improvement Impact

As a result of these improvements, roundtrip travel time has been significantly reduced for riders: 

• Over 20 minutes on the Orange Line. 

• Nearly an hour on the Red Line. 

• Four minutes on the Blue Line. 

• Almost nine minutes on the Green Line. 

The MBTA's efforts show that, on average, heavy rail riders on the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines now collectively save 2.4 million minutes per weekday due to the removal of speed restrictions. This translates to $950,000 in daily economic benefits, representing an estimated $300 million in annual savings for the region. 

The milestone highlights the positive impact of enhanced rail operations for commuters following the first multi-day Ashmont service outage in October 2023. 

Improving Reliability

The completion of the Track Improvement Program marks the culmination of a year of progress for the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal of improving reliability and safety across the system. 

Gov. Healey delivered the highest level of state funding to the T for the first time in 20 years, including leveraging $600 million from Fair Share funding to support rail and station upgrades. The T also launched a first-of-its-kind reduced fares program, as well as a new contactless payment system. 

In the future, speed restrictions may be needed from time to time if warranted by a changing track condition — this is normal and common across all passenger rail service providers. 

As a result of the successful Track Improvement Program that has taken place over the last year, the MBTA is now well-positioned to quickly respond to any track issues that may arise, according to the agency.