In 2019, the MBTA delivered rail projects 2.2 years faster than originally planned.
Keolis
2 min to read
In 2019, the MBTA delivered rail projects 2.2 years faster than originally planned.
Keolis
Boston’s MBTA unveiled plans to accelerate infrastructure projects for several subway and commuter rail lines during calendar year 2020 to improve service, safety, and reliability on a faster timeline. The projects will include additional diversions of weekend service on all rapid transit lines and several commuter rail lines. In addition to several weekend diversions on the Green Line, the MBTA is planning for two one-month shutdowns on the Green Line — the C Branch in July and the E Branch in August.
The 2020 Infrastructure Acceleration Plan will deliver these projects eight years faster than originally planned, and will result in track replacement, upgraded intersections, and station improvements.
Ad Loading...
In 2019, the MBTA executed a plan to expedite projects for customers, delivering projects 2.2 years faster than originally planned across the Red, Orange, and Green Lines.
Much of this work was completed through 10 weekend shutdowns on the Red and Orange Lines through the core of downtown Boston.
During those shutdowns, the MBTA was able to accelerate improvements by expanding traditional work windows and increasing the number of work activities that took place.
Throughout those weekends, the MBTA accommodated customers by increasing existing parallel service while also providing robust replacement service where feasible during the diversions.
In addition to the full-month C and E Branch shutdowns, as previously announced, the MBTA has scheduled an 11-month suspension of regular Green Line service between North Station and Lechmere starting in May 2020. During the closure, the T will accelerate efforts to strengthen the historic Lechmere Viaduct in coordination with the rebuilding of the elevated segment of track through East Cambridge and the realignment of the track to a new, relocated Lechmere Station, which is being completed as part of the project to extend the Green Line to Somerville and Medford.
During diversions of regularly scheduled rail service, the MBTA takes steps to provide replacement service to ensure customers can reach their intended destinations.
In certain cases, the MBTA increases the frequency of parallel services to accommodate customers displaced by a diversion.
In other cases, the MBTA provides accessible shuttle buses — operated by the MBTA or a private carrier — that are specially designed to account for passenger travel patterns during these diversions.
The only new subway opening in the US this year, the D Line Extension represents one of Metro’s top transit priorities and a historic milestone for Los Angeles, with Sections 2 and 3 set to open in 2027.
The new center serves as the central hub for monitoring and managing PATCO train operations, communications, customer service coordination, incident response, and overall operational oversight across the transit system.
Despite these pressures, VIA Rail is reporting that total revenues increased to $514.8 million as more travelers took advantage of the wide range of options available through the corporation’s new reservation system.
Created in partnership with Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners, the contractor for CTA’s historic $5.7 billion RLE project, the new $250,000 scholarship program will provide three students a year from 2026 to 2030 with $3,000 scholarships.
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
