Press Release: 1/8/2026

MBTA Closes Out 2025 with Major Progress on Service Delivery, Accessibility, and Infrastructure

 



Posted on January 5, 2026



Today, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) reflected on 2025 improvements across the system, from more frequent service to accessibility upgrades, to safety progress, and new innovative technology, as the agency heads into 2026 with continued momentum in its charge to deliver a quality public transit experience for the general riding public.  



Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, the MBTA accelerated  critical investments to rebuild aging infrastructure,  modernize system operations, expand service, strengthen the workforce and attract talented professionals,  and serve the communities that rely on the MBTA across the Commonwealth daily.  



“Congratulations to Phil Eng and the entire team at the MBTA on another successful year,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This continues the progress and significant turnaround at the T since we took office - improving service and reliability across the system, eliminating slow zones, and opening South Coast Rail. I want to thank the Legislature for their support in providing funding to support this work. Most importantly, I want to thank riders for continuing to choose the T and playing an essential role in our efforts to improve transportation across Massachusetts.”



“I'm proud of the MBTA workforce for their efforts that have enabled the MBTA to continue to deliver improved and more reliable service across all modes, giving our riders more frequent service and time back in their day with shorter travel times. I want the public to know that we will continue to carry that same focus, discipline, and urgency into the new year,” said Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “Under the leadership of Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, and their Administration, we are following through on our commitment to provide a safe mass transportation system that the public and businesses can rely on. With the support of the Legislature, partners across all levels of government, public transit advocates, community leaders, and most of all, the riding public, we are committed to continuous improvement, delivering meaningful projects and service in the most cost effective and efficient manner. I’m honored to work side by side with our dedicated workforce of over 8,000 employees and our industry partners as we head into 2026 and beyond.”



Key 2025 Milestones:



Leadership and National Engagement





Infrastructure Upgrades and Accessibility Improvements




  • MBTA Achieves Major Accessibility Milestone with the Historic Daniels-Finegold Settlement: After 19 years of steady improvements to the accessibility of its system, the MBTA has fulfilled a substantial amount of its obligations under the 2006 Joanne Daniels-Finegold, et al. v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Settlement Agreement. As a result, in December 2025, court-appointed independent monitor Judge Patrick King concluded his oversight role.

     

  • Commuter Rail Station Openings and Accessibility Upgrades:

     


  • Preparing for Boston26 FIFA World Cup Games: This past year, MBTA work crews installed the temporary platform as part of the Foxboro Station Improvements project in order to allow the permanent upgraded platform construction to begin in advance of operating train service to and from next year’s FIFA World Cup games. The MBTA also began preparing to welcome fans from all over the world to the Boston region with an online World Cup Guide available at MBTA.com/WorldCup.

     

  • New and Replacement Elevators: This year, a new redundant elevator serving the inbound platform at Kendall/MIT was constructed, a redundant elevator at State that connects the Oak Grove-bound Orange Line platform to the corridor between the Orange and Blue lines was replaced, and an elevator at Quincy Adams was replaced – each are currently in service for riders. With all four elevators now replaced at Quincy Adams, and with redundant elevators serving the platform, it is the eleventh Red Line station to have redundant elevator service in place. 

     

  • Major Bridge Upgrades: The MBTA’s Bridge and Structures team successfully upgraded a number of bridges within the system in 2025, allowing for safe, reliable transit service. Among the upgrades were:  

     

    • The $145 million project to complete the High Line Bridge, which carries the Lowell Line over an access road, High Line, and the railroad yard in Somerville between North Station and West Medford,

       

    • Substantially completing the replacement of the over-100-year-old South Elm Bridge that carries the Haverhill Line over South Elm Street between Bradford and Haverhill stations with a modern structure as part of the $22.5 million project,  

       

    • Completing the replacement of the over-100-year-old East Street Bridge in Dedham with a modern, taller structure as part of the $23.3 million project, and  

       

    • Completing final work toward the $40 million project to replace the Dorchester Avenue Bridge.

       



  • Station Improvements to Enhance the Customer Experience: Throughout 2025, MBTA crews completed a variety of work aimed at improving the commuting experience for riders, including: 

     

    • Stairways enhancements across the system, including at Revere Beach, Fields Corner, the Green Line level of Park Street, Andrew, Broadway, Newton Centre, the South Station Garage, and Quincy Center.

       

    • Restroom accessibility improvements at Government Center, Downtown Crossing, Wellington, Harvard Square, JFK/UMass, Haymarket, David, Alewife, and Wonderland. 

       

    • Roof replacements at Wood Island, Davis, and Andrew as well as at MBTA facilities, including the Orient Heights Carhouse, 202 Southampton, Charlestown Yard Building 4, 200 Newport Avenue, and more.

       

    • Last summer, work crews successfully replaced the roof and performed painting work at Airport Station. With the understanding that Airport is the gateway to our system for many new visitors, this was a critical priority in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games.





Improving the Rider Experience




  • Access in Motion: The MBTA continues its “Access in Motion” initiative, which is a pioneering marketing campaign that raises awareness of accessibility features on the MBTA and their benefits for all riders.  

     

  • Accessible Shuttle Buses: The MBTA increased the use of low-floor shuttle buses during planned service changes with 74% of diversion bus hours operated by low-floor buses in 2025 versus 69% in 2024. The MBTA also completed inspections by the T’s System-wide Accessibility Department for all contracted bus and van fleets in August 2025.

     

  • Bus Stop Enhancements: The MBTA received $15 million in Fair Share funding to support the Bus Stop Amenities Program. In response to direct feedback from riders, improvements will be made to approximately 100 bus stops across the bus network. This year, 23 new bus shelters were installed, six of which included solar-powered electronic ink (E Ink) digital signs.

     

  • North Quincy Parking Garage Opens: In September, the MBTA opened the new parking garage at North Quincy. More than 1,500 spaces are available in the new garage, including over 850 spaces dedicated for MBTA parking.



Technology and Data Enhancements




  • Official MBTA Mobile App “MBTA Go” on Android: The MBTA’s official mobile app, MBTA Go, was made available to Android users in February 2025, following the app release to Apple iPhone users in November 2024. French was also added a supported language. Adoption and use of MBTA Go has increased steadily throughout the year—up to nearly 90,000 monthly users—and the MBTA continued to deliver new features requested by riders. Riders will soon be able to sign-up for push notifications of both planned and unplanned disruptions that affect their trips.

     

  • Launch of New “The RIDE – MBTA” Mobile App, New Online Portal for Paratransit RIDE Customers: In September, the MBTA launched “The RIDE – MBTA” mobile app and a new online booking portal for paratransit RIDE customers. These new tools provide customers with better flexibility in scheduling trips, updating some account information, adding funds to their accounts, and tracking their trips – all features that customers have requested.

     

  • Scale-up of Real-time Information in Stations: Furthering the T’s commitment to real-time information and communication, the MBTA installed 133 new digital screens in subway stations and busways in 2025. These screens are delivering real-time information to bus riders for the first time in several of the MBTA’s highest-ridership busways like Forest Hills (Lower Busway), Alewife, Wellington, and Andrew.

     

  • Modernizing Service Performance Data: This year, the MBTA overhauled its service quality reporting pipeline across bus and rail transit, which empowered internal teams to identify opportunities for improvements, drove public reporting dashboards, and gave external developers and partners more reliable open data about historical service performance.

     

  • More Disruption Information in Real-time Data: Open real-time data was improved this year to best inform riders about more types of service changes and disruptions more quickly. Starting this year, the MBTA now identifies and publishes Green and Mattapan line trains not able to accept riders, and publishes Commuter Rail cancellations across all apps, including MBTA Go. The MBTA also invested in internal tools that let allow updates to MBTA.com and other trip planners more quickly during planned service changes.



Improving Service




  • South Coast Rail (SCR) Service Begins: Passenger service on SCR began March 24, 2025. The over $1 billion project brought passenger service to the communities of Taunton, Freetown, New Bedford, Middleboro, and Fall River for the first time in 65 years on the Fall River/New Bedford Commuter Rail Line. Free weekend SCR service and parking were also provided through March 2025 and in April 2025.

     

    • The MBTA also received an Economic Impact award from the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce as recognition for the benefits that SCR service brings to the region.  

       



  • Permanent Extended Service: Beginning with fall 2025 service changes, all subway lines and eight frequent bus routes now offer extended service on Fridays and Saturdays with five of the MBTA’s most frequent bus routes with the highest number of later riders offering extended service every day of the week. Trip end times for these lines and routes are about one hour later compared to past service end times. To encourage riders to take advantage of the extended service, all subway lines, bus routes, ferries, Commuter Rail lines, and the RIDE trips were free for on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 9 PM through the end of service during five weekends in September and October.  

     

  • Subway Service Improvements:  

     

    • The MBTA increased scheduled weekday trips across all Heavy Rail subway lines this year:  

       

      • Orange Line: There was an 18% increase in the number of scheduled weekday trips from 360 last winter (2024-2025) to this winter (2025-2026), which reduced the time between AM and PM peak trains from 5.9 minutes to 4.8 minutes.

         

      • Red Line: There was a 10% increase in the number of scheduled weekday trips from 406 last winter (2024-2025) to 448 this winter (2025-2026).  

         

      • Blue Line: There was a 5% increase in the number of scheduled weekday trips from 400 last winter (2024-2025) to 418 this winter (2025-2026).

         



    • 50 MPH on the Red Line: Red Line Braintree Branch speeds were restored to 50 MPH for the first time in 20 years in March 2025 following the unprecedented work of the MBTA’s Maintenance of Way Department.  

       

    • 55 MPH on the Orange Line: Orange Line trains began traveling at its maximum speed of 55 MPH (up from 40 MPH) between Oak Grove and Assembly Station for the first time ever in August 2025 following the restoration of track in this area.  

       

    • Reduced Congestion at Forest Hills and Oak Grove: The MBTA improved Orange Line train bunching at each end of the line with schedule changes throughout the year and new drop-back procedure changes (Monday through Friday during AM and PM peak periods) starting in December 2025.

       



  • Bus Service Improvements:  

     

    • Total weekly bus schedules were increased by 7% this year, delivering 3,000 more hours of bus service to the region each week—made possible by investing in 172 more active bus drivers to serve our region.  

       

    • Dropped trips – instances in which scheduled bus trips do not operate – were reduced to below 0.5%, meaning the MBTA is now reliably operating nearly all the service the schedule promises.

       

    • The MBTA increased frequencies and/or spans on over 50 bus routes throughout the network.

       

    • Twenty-one Frequent Bus Routes of 31 total planned in the Better Bus Network are now in place, including promotion of Route 31 from Mattapan to Forest Hills to service operating every 15 minutes or better, seven days per week. Eighteen additional bus routes also meet the “every 15 minutes or better” standard—creating better frequency on routes that serve 46% of MBTA bus boardings.  

       

    • Routes 62 and 76 were simplified this year and began Sunday service to the Bedford VA hospital and Lexington for the first time.

       

    • Summer 716 Bus Service Pilot to Houghton’s Pond: For the first time, the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) partnered on a seasonal service pilot in summer 2025 to expand Bus Route 716 on Saturdays to Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area within the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA. The seasonal expansion was successful, and the MBTA intends to bring the service back again in summer 2026.

       

    • Expanded Transit-Signal Priority: In January 2025, the MBTA and the City of Boston partnered to improve transit reliability and travel times through a city-wide upgrade to Boston’s Traffic Management Center that integrates MBTA bus locations into real-time traffic signal adjustments. Up to 50% of transit delays consist of waiting at red lights in signalized intersections and these upgrades have the potential to significantly reduce that time.

       

    • Advanced Route 714 Bus Stop Conversion in Hull: The Route 714 Bus Stop Safety & Accessibility Project (BSAP) commenced the process of converting the route from a flag-stop service to a fixed-stop service earlier this year. This project’s objectives are to improve safety, accessibility, and other customer-facing features (i.e., improvements on bus tracking). In collaboration with the Town of Hull, they have approved $130,000 of their own funds to this project.

       

    • Service Pilot Expansion: The MBTA secured $1.5 million this year from the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) under the Transit Transformation project to implement a service expansion pilot on Routes 714 and 716 in April 2026, which aims to improve frequencies and connections with the Commuter Rail, ferry, Mattapan trolley, and local buses.

       



  • Ferry Service Improvements: The MBTA upgraded Winthrop and Quincy Ferry service during its 2025 season by doubling the number of weekday trips, providing direct Winthrop-to-Boston and Quincy-to-Boston service on weekdays, and enhancing weekday trip times by about 30 minutes. Contactless payments also began to be accepted on Ferry services this summer, beginning with the East Boston and Charlestown routes.

     

  • Second Patriots Train from Boston: For the first time, the MBTA offered a second round-trip train between Boston’s South Station and Foxboro for four New England Patriots home games. The addition of the second Boston train allowed an additional 1,200 passengers to travel to and from Gillette Stadium. 

     

  • Expanded Salem Weekend Commuter Rail Service for Haunted Happenings: The MBTA and Keolis operated increased weekend train service to and from Salem during the month of October. Several extra trains ran on Saturdays and Sundays during peak times on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line to accommodate visitors to Salem for Haunted Happenings events. Double the amount of mTickets were sold in 2025 (3,000+) compared to 2024 (1,300+).



Enhancing Safety




  • Federal Transit Authority (FTA) Safety Management Inspection (SMI) Progress: This year, the MBTA’s Office of Quality, Compliance & Oversight closed eight Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) covering content across nine Findings as well as one of the eight Special Directives from the FTA’s SMI. This brings the MBTA’s SMI completion percentage to 74% of the Findings closed overall (up 27% from 2024). Notable closures this year include:

     

    • The special directive on Lapsed Certifications, which itself encompassed three Findings. To close this, the MBTA completely overhauled its approach to and monitoring of key professional certification milestones and ensuring employees are properly trained to perform their jobs.

       

    • The MBTA’s Safety Management System implementation, including significant work to better collect, validate, and use safety data, and a program to better track and mitigate safety risk collaboratively across the organization.

       

    • Workforce Recruitment and Hiring Plan, which built on the workforce assessment, formalized the MBTA’s commitment to the workforce, and ensured the MBTA has the right people and skills in place to set up the workforce for success.

       



  • Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS): Last June 2025, the MBTA awarded the GLTPS contract to Piper Networks following their successful completion of “demonstration phase testing.” Since that time and throughout the rest of 2025, crews have been hard at work installing GLTPS equipment along Green Line tracks and onboard vehicles with Phase 1 of the project on track to be operational in summer 2026.  



Modernizing Vehicles




  • MBTA Brings Vehicle Work In-House, Strengthening Workforce and Saving Millions: In October 2025, the MBTA announced that it would bring vehicle overhaul work in-house, which would save tens of millions of dollars, increase the internal workforce, and improve quality and oversight. For years, the MBTA outsourced bus and train overhauls to contractors out of state. The MBTA is currently preparing facilities and its workforce to tackle major vehicle work on premise and to stimulate the local economy. In winter 2025-2026, the MBTA is anticipating the full production of its first in-house bus overhaul, which will include 175 vehicles at their mid-life point. A bus overhaul program of this size executed in-house is anticipated to save $73 million.

     

  • New Orange and Red Line Fleet: In December 2025, the MBTA received its 152nd new Orange Line car – this is the final car of the new and expanded Orange Line fleet. The MBTA also conditionally accepted 28 new Red Line cars, bringing the total to 52 (of 252). An additional six Red Line cars are also schedules to be put into passenger service following being conditionally accepted. 

     

    • An average “mean miles between failures” of 272,764 miles was achieved for the new Orange Line cars and 87,603 miles for the new Red Line cars, exceeding the required reliability milestones.  

       



  • New Type 10 Green Line Fleet: Pilot vehicle carshells are on track to all be completed by the end of 2025 in Elmira, NY, with Pilot 1 in final assembly and on track to be completed December 2025. The Pilot cars are anticipated to be delivered next year with the full Type 10 fleet delivery expected in 2031.

     

  • Commuter Rail Coach Fleet Upgrades: The last of 83 Bi-Level Coaches delivered by Hyundai Rotem were conditionally accepted and entered passenger service in February 2025. Production is currently underway for an additional 80 Hyundai Rotem Bi-Level Coaches, the first of which are anticipated to be delivered next fall.  

     

  • Battery-Electric Buses (BEBs): The MBTA received 10 pilot state-of-the-art BEBs in 2025 with another 27 more currently being manufactured to support passenger service out of the renovated North Cambridge Bus facility. Planning is underway for the MBTA to receive over 40 more BEBs that will operate out of a Quincy Bus facility in 2027. Each BEB features collision avoidance systems, real-time performance monitoring, and ranges of up to 150+ miles per charge.

     

  • Bus Facility Modernization Efforts: The MBTA continued to upgrade and modernize its bus maintenance facilities to provide both a better work environment for its workforce and enhance garages to accommodate battery-electric buses:

     

    • The MBTA completed over $27 million in major work to upgrade the North Cambridge facility to a fully modern garage that can accommodate battery-electric buses.

       

    • Battery chargers were completed at Cabot and Charlestown facilities with commissioning of chargers at North Cambridge underway now.

       

    • Lighting improvements were completed at Southampton Bus facility.

       

    • Fueling system upgrades were completed at Arborway and Cabot facilities.  

       

    • A new Crew Quarters facility was constructed at Arborway.

       

    • Repairs to bus bays and the completion of a new Foreperson’s Office were completed at the Lynn Bus facility.  

       

    • Brick repairs were accomplished on Buildings 6 and 7 at Charlestown Bus facility.





Alternate Service Enhancements




  • Increased MBTA-Operated Bus Shuttles: This year, the T increased the percentage of in-house, MBTA-operated bus shuttles during service changes from 13% in 2024 to 23% in 2025. The MBTA’s Bus Operations team supported shuttle buses for 40 weekend diversions, 32 of those exclusively, saving approximately $10 million in avoided contracted bus costs.

     

  • Single-Track and Shuttle Train Operations: The use of single-track operations and shuttle trains were increased this year to maintain subway service while track work occurs, keeping riders on trains and avoiding an estimated 6,500 hours and $3.2 million cost for contracted shuttle buses to transport passengers.



Enhancing Fare Efforts  




  • Fare Checks Begin: In September, Fare Engagement Representatives began issuing formal warnings and citations to riders who have not tapped at a fare gate or farebox at downtown stations and onboard vehicles. Fare checks are respectful interactions where trained Fare Engagement Representatives visually check fares as they observe riders entering fare gates and boarding vehicles. Beginning this winter, Fare Engagement Representatives will expand to cover more stations, focusing on those with high ridership and transfer points.

     

  • South Station Commuter Rail Fare Gates: Commuter Rail fare gates at South Station went into operation at the end of December. The gates improve fare collection, replace platform ticket checks, and create a more consistent fare-paying experience for passengers across transit modes.

     

  • Expanding Access to Income-Eligible Reduced Fares: Since its launch in September 2024, the income-eligible reduced fare program has made MBTA travel more affordable for over 38,000 riders. About 70% of riders have enrolled via an automated verification process that takes under five minutes to complete thanks to partnerships with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and Executive Office of Health and Human Services. This streamlined approach has enabled quick program growth and lays the groundwork for similar improvements coming to other reduced fare programs in the near future.



Supporting Sustainability, Communities, Regional Vitality, and the Economy




  • Commuter Rail Renewable Diesel Fuel Pilot: In May 2025, the MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services launched an alternative fuel pilot utilizing renewable diesel for some locomotives. The pilot includes all locomotives that lay over at the Newburyport Commuter Rail facility, which are now being fueled with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). HVO is a more sustainable alternative as it’s made from vegetable oil and animal fats and emits less carbon than fossil diesel.

     

  • Federal Renewable Fuel Standard Program Participation: In September, the MBTA partnered with STX Group to participate in the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFSII) program, an initiative that is expected to generate $4 million of revenue for the MBTA over the term of the contract.  

     

  • Partnering with Local Schools to Rededicate Three Newly Acquired MBTA Ferry Vessels: Following a ferry-naming contest in spring 2025, students from Winthrop, Quincy, and Lynn helped the MBTA rededicate three recently acquired ferry vessels – the Abigail Adams, which will serve the Quincy route, the Harbor Gem, which will serve the Winthrop route, and the Frederick Douglass, which will supplement service to Lynn and other routes.

     

  • Pop-ups and the Summer Music Series: In June 2025, the MBTA launched its Summer Music Series. An effort to brighten the commutes of thousands of MBTA riders, current or graduated Berklee College of Music musicians performed live at surprise station pop-ups throughout the subway system on weekday evening rush hour periods through the end of this month. Other rider appreciation events also took place, including holiday music pop-ups at stations during the winter holiday season as well as pop-ups handing out slushies during hot weather and hand warmers during cold weather.

     

  • First Annual “Fall Rail Ride”: In October, the MBTA hosted its first “Fall Rail Ride” in collaboration with MassDOT, DCR, and Wachusett Mountain. Departing from North Station and Porter, this scenic “leaf peeping” special train included a cafe car with a fall-themed menu and connected riders with guided autumnal bicycle tours in West Concord on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail as well as shuttle buses at Wachusett for connections to Wachusett Mountain’s AppleFest. This successful Fall Rail Ride quickly sold out, and the MBTA intends to host more recreational Special Trains in the future.

     

  • Nearly 3,800 Pounds of Food Collected for The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB): In November 2025, the MBTA collected nearly 3,800 pounds of food items as part of an employee-led food drive to support GBFB and its partner organizations. That translates to about 3,165 meals, which will benefit Salvation Army Cambridge Corp, an Agency Partner of GBFB.

     

  • 25th Annual Fill-A-Bus with Gifts Program: In December 2025, MBTA and MassDOT employees donated a record-breaking 2,746 toys, which were donated to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, and Heading Home.

     

  • Real Estate and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Highlights:

     

    • TOD closed out 21 additional projects across the MBTA system, ranging from the Parcel 12 Air Rights project to rail trail implementation to mid-sized transit-adjacent residential projects that created 263 new residential units, of which 30% were affordable housing units.  

       

    • TOD is supporting projects in planning and construction that include over 14,900 housing units in over 240 projects across the MBTA system.  

       

    • The 700-foot Hines tower over the South Station Commuter Rail terminal was completed in September, providing a new covered concourse for the Commuter Rail/Amtrak terminal. Above the terminal, the new Bus Terminal Expansion project reached substantial completion in October. The new bus concourse adds 12 new intercity bus berths to the existing terminal. South Station fare gates were installed and operational in December.

       

    • Back Bay Station concourse improvements kicked off in 2025 and will continue until 2027. The $37 million in improvements are funded through a lease agreement with a private development partner, Boston Properties. The scope of work includes updated systems, lighting, improved flooring, improved station entrances, bike cage, signage, retail spaces, refinishing of the arches and glass block walls, and fare gate arrays.

       

    • Licensing: License applications at the MBTA span a broad range of activities, from short-term community and nonprofit uses (e.g., Girl Scout cookie sales at 21 locations over a three-day period) to routine operational and private development infrastructure-related needs.

       

      • The MBTA closed 167 application licenses in 2025, a 15% increase from 2024.  

         

      • Average processing time was also reduced from 90-120 days to 30-60 days, improving efficiency and collaboration with our community partners.

         



    • Concessions: The MBTA’s Real Estate team is actively working on securing new concessions across the MBTA network. New food and retail services will be coming to Newton Lower Falls, Wellington, Government Center, and several other locations in 2026.  

       

    • Major 2025 Acquisitions:

       

      • 440 Riverside, Medford, MA: Acquired 21 acres and 206,954 SF of industrial space at the former Anheuser-Busch site. Planned MBTA use is for a bus modernization facility.

         

      • 71 Von Hilleren Street, Dorchester, MA: Secured 1.19 acres with a 58,591 SF building near JFK/UMass Station. Enhancing south-side operations.

         

      • 1400 Iron Horse Park, Billerica, MA: Secured the purchase of .91 acres; 40,345 SF warehouse building (with overhead cranes). This project repurposes an existing building to deliver a cost-effective Maintenance of Way Facility, consolidating operations and supporting the Commuter Rail’s long-term planning at Iron Horse Park.

         

      • Factory Street / Hyde Park Avenue Land Swap: Secured the acquisition of property adjacent to the Hyde Park Station, supporting future critical ADA accessibility improvements at Hyde Park Station.  







Workforce and Training Enhancements




  • Over 8,000 Headcount: Since the beginning of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the MBTA has scaled its workforce and hired over 1,900 employees – the workforce is now over 8,200 strong. Thanks to the Administration and the Legislature, the MBTA will continue to upgrade its workforce in order to deliver even more safe, robust service.  

     

  • External Dispatchers: For the first time ever, the MBTA recruited and hired external candidates as Operations Control Center (OCC) dispatchers to help address a longstanding headcount shortage in this critical role. A round of hiring in February 2025 led to seven new rail dispatchers, and a second round in November resulted in 15 new dispatcher hires, who are currently onboarding / in training.

     

  • More Transit Ambassadors: In July, a new contract for in-station customer assistance through the red-shirt Transit Ambassador program went into effect and staffing levels were scaled up. As part of the new contract, in an effort to better support both riders navigating throughout subway stations and Transit Ambassadors assisting riders with disabilities, a full revision of the accessibility training module for Transit Ambassadors was completed and incorporated into the new-hire training program. All Transit Ambassadors have completed this new training.

     

  • New and Enhanced Workforce Training:

     

    • Updated its comprehensive accessibility training program for Bus Operators.

       

    • Developed a brand-new full-day accessibility training for Operations Control Center dispatchers.

       

    • Delivered multiple large-scale training courses outside of the traditional training scope, including for Advance Mobile Flagging (AMF), Bus Network Redesign (BNR), External Dispatchers, and the Operations Testing and Inspection Program (OTIP).  

       

    • Created and delivered a Hi-Rail Training course for contractors to support diversion work.

       

    • Delivered de-escalation training to Bus Operators.  

       

    • Implemented a Power Line Repairer training and Apprenticeship program, in collaboration with Local 104.

       

    • Created and delivered a new three-day Switching class to Engineering & Maintenance employees. 





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