The MBTA Board of Directors approved the receipt of $850 million in Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF)-funded bond capacity to the MBTA from a crucial Interdepartmental Service Agreement (ISA) with MassDOT. The MassDOT Board of Directors approved of the ISA last week. This funding was proposed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and passed by the Legislature.

This funding, stemming from a state transportation fund, will improve safety and reliability across the MBTA system. It will cover major projects and add new funding into the Rail Reliability Program (RRP) to support significant, long-term investments, such as repairs and upgrades, in the MBTA’s capital projects and core infrastructure.

Key Investments Supported by the $850 Million Agreement:

This funding directly supports both new CIP objectives and the MBTA’s ongoing focus on these core four areas:

• Safety: Investing in new technology and infrastructure to make the T safe for everyone. This also means upgrading critical systems that are over 100 years old, like the Green Line signal system, and replacing old vehicles when needed so that riders and employees are secure.
• Reliability and Modernization: Fixing old equipment and upgrading the system by, for example, replacing the MBTA’s oldest locomotives and beginning construction of new, permanent maintenance facilities, like the Arborway Bus Facility and the Widett Layover Facility. These projects directly modernize MBTA operations so the T can run more reliable, on-time service.
• Accessibility: Making sure all riders can easily use the T, which includes making sure stations are built with a platform height that allows for level-boarding where passengers can walk straight onto the train without a gap or step.
• Sustainability and Resilience: The investment is designed to address the most critical repairs needed right now, advance modernization so that the system can handle the impacts of climate change, and ensure it is durable and resilient.

The $850 million allocation from the Commonwealth Transportation Fund is currently planned for four specific, critical capital projects focused on core infrastructure, vehicle modernization, and climate resilience:

1. Arborway Battery Electric Bus Maintenance Facility: This significant investment will replace the existing temporary bus maintenance facility with a new, permanent campus. The goal is to design a facility capable of storing and maintaining approximately 200 battery electric buses (BEBs), supporting the transition to zero emissions technology to meet the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Law requirements. The project includes a 75,000 square foot maintenance building, a 15,000 square foot service/wash building, and an open-air yard for bus storage and charging.
2. Green Line Infrastructure Projects: This group of investments will help fund necessary infrastructure to accommodate the new Green Line Type 10 vehicles and support the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Core Capacity Program. Improvements include power upgrades, modernization of the 100-year-old signal system, track reconfiguration, and modifications to all four maintenance facilities. These upgrades will result in higher capacity, increased frequencies, and full level-boarding at stations to support passenger mobility.
3. Widett Regional Rail Layover Facility – Phase 1: This initial phase is an early-action package to prepare the 24-acre site for a regional rail layover facility. Phase 1 includes full demolition and environmental remediation of existing structures, geotechnical work, and elevating the site by five feet to meet future climate resilient Design Flood Elevation. Crucially, this phase will support the design and construction of a six-track electrified layover facility to support Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs), enabling the new fully electrified service on the Fairmount line by 2028.
4. Locomotive Procurement: This funding adds value to the ongoing procurement of new Commuter Rail locomotives, ensuring the replacement of the oldest vehicles in the fleet and maintaining service reliability.

This critical funding through the RRP program directly reinforces the MBTA’s unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and modernization. The Authority has prioritized tackling decades old, deferred maintenance and addressing asset needs to deliver the consistent service riders deserve. The investments in new vehicles and track upgrades will improve service reliability while the focus on accessibility and resiliency ensures the system is safer and more equitable for ridership.

-via Press Release