The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently completed its $255 million purchase of Widett Circle, a component to improve commuter rail service in Boston.
Widett Circle is 24 acres located one mile from South Station, adjacent to existing MBTA commuter rail facilities. The area will be used for new facilities that allow for train storage and maintenance activities near South Station for nine of the T’s 14 commuter rail lines.
Design work is expected to incorporate resiliency measures that address climate change.
The expansion of rail capacity will allow the MBTA to reduce the time trains must layover at South Station; address current deficiencies and provide additional storage and servicing capacity on the south side of the T’s commuter rail system; relieve congestion on the Fairmount Line by limiting non-revenue travel distance which will provide the opportunity for a potential increase in revenue service; and reduce the distance non-revenue trains must travel for layovers and the “deadhead miles” traveled to the Readville layover facility. This will result in costs savings and environmental benefits including reducing diesel emissions in Environmental Justice communities.
In December, the MBTA Board of Directors authorized the purchase. The agency used $100 million in MBTA Capital Investment Plan funds and $155 million in Massachusetts Department of Transportation funds.