The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently announced plans to accelerate infrastructure projects during calendar year 2020. The plan calls for the completion of projects eight years faster than originally planned.
The 2020 Infrastructure Acceleration Plan includes plans for the Green Line, Red Line, Orange Line, and Blue Line subway systems; the commuter rail; as well as Silver Line buses. The plan also will repair parking lots at multiple facilities.
The plan includes station improvements, track replacement, and upgraded intersections designed to improve reliability, safety and service.
Much of the work will be completed on weekends while the Green Line will experience two one-month shutdowns. Service between North Station and Lechmere will be suspended for 11 months starting in May.
“We recognize the need to accelerate core system investments, so our plan for 2020 will result in a series of investments that is five times more than what we accomplished in 2019,” Steve Poftak MBTA general manager, said. “The increased work, accelerated investments, and smarter planning for replacement service represents our new normal as we continue to build a better, safer, more reliable T.”
MBTA’s 2019 plan to expedite projects resulted in delivering projects 2.2 years faster than originally planned across the Red, Orange, and Green Lines.