Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey joined state and local officials to celebrate the completion of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Program’s Track Improvement Program and the removal of slow zones for the first time in two decades.
MBTA has removed more than 220 speed restrictions since 2023, and replaced 250,000 feet of rail across the system, Healey said. She joined Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, along with MBTA workers and riders on Dec. 23 at the North Station to celebration the accomplishment. The program will save riders 2.4 million minutes every weekday and generate nearly $1 million in economic benefit every day, officials said.
“This is an awesome milestone. We knew when we first took office that it was essential that we improve safety and reliability on the T. So, we got General Manager Eng and his team into place, and they developed and executed on their strategy with our strong support. And as a result, riders are getting more time back in their days and our entire economy is seeing the benefits,” Healey said. “I want to extend my deep gratitude to the T workers who made all of this work possible, as well as to the T riders who endured years of unreliable service and shutdowns… We’re going to continue to invest in the T, and Phil and the team are going to continue working every day to deliver the world-class service that Massachusetts deserves.”