General Manager Philip Eng spoke on Tuesday, June 17, at the Charles River Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Transportation Forum. Noting that the State Legislature determines the funds available to the MBTA, he said he is committed to demonstrating that the MBTA can deliver with the money the Legislature provides – thereby building confidence and increasing state support for mass transit. He acknowledged that MBTA shutdowns have been painful, but said they were necessary because the MBTA’s infrastructure had deteriorated beyond repair and required full-depth replacement, which could not be accomplished during evening or weekend shutdowns.
General Manager Eng said that every area of public transportation – water, rail, and road – is improving, with more trips being run and fewer trips being dropped.
Bus trips make up 40% of all MBTA trips. Over the last two years, unplanned cancellations of bus trip have gone from 8% to less than 1%. General Manager Eng aims to achieve a 15-minute bus service on key routes, and the MBTA is working to improve schedule connections with Regional Transportation Authorities and the Commuter Rail. They are revising bus routes to improve service and are seeking public feedback. Councilor Andreae Downs noted the need for increased service on the Bus 59 route to support new development along that line.
General Manager Eng said the new Green Line cars are expected to begin arriving next year. Phase 1 of the Green Line safety improvements – audible and visual speed alerts for train drivers – is scheduled for completion this year. He did not give a timeline for Phase 2, which will focus on automatic speed control and braking. He said Green Line service has not been reduced, and timetables were adjusted to match the actual demand for service.
The MBTA is committed to moving to hourly regional rail schedules for the Commuter Rail, which will better fit today’s flexible work schedules. The ongoing signal upgrades on the Framingham/Worcester line will allow for trains every 30 to 45 minutes. It will be completed after the Boston 2026 Soccer World Cup. (The MBTA is busy arranging how to move millions of visitors to the 7 games at Gillette Stadium, without disrupting regular services.) The MBTA is working to deliver level platform boarding at train stations, which shortens travel time by eliminating steps and stairs, facilitating faster on- and off-boarding.
General Manager Eng is working with Representatives Moulton and Auchincloss to find funding to improve Commuter Rail stations. The MBTA is designing the Newtonville station to 30% of design completion and then pausing to ensure that the “lessons learned” from the Foxborough station work (Gillette Stadium) are incorporated, to save money and speed implementation. The timeline for the Newtonville station will be set once the Federal funds are received. General Manager Eng said he is not worried about losing Federal funds, as he has had positive discussions with State and Federal transportation authorities.
By 2028, the 9-mile Fairmont Commuter Rail line will have fully electric trains using battery-electric multiple units (BEMU). This will enable the MBTA to test BEMUs on other shorter corridors, such as the Needham line. General Manager Eng would love to expand the system with new projects, but given the available funding, shortening trips and improving reliability need to be the focus in order to build ridership.
Following the General Manager’s presentation, Boston Indicators and Transit Matters (BITM) discussed its report, Transit Supportive Density in Greater Boston. The report noted that Massachusetts has experienced economic stagnation and an outmigration of young families over the last decade. BITM provided examples of affordable housing built near transit nodes, such as Assembly Row in Somerville, which funded its own Orange Line train station. BITM noted that commuting to work accounts for only 18% of all trips, and that building communities where people can walk to services can reduce traffic.
The Charles River Regional Chamber has posted a video of the forum.
