Press Release: 9/16/2026

MBTA Successfully Advances Improvements at Ruggles, Signal Modernization, and More During Latest Orange Line Infrastructure Work

For immediate release:

9/15/2026

 


The MBTA today announced the successful advancement of work on the Orange Line, including enhancements as part of the Ruggles Station Improvements Project, critical signal modernization work at the Forest Hills yard and throughout the corridor, and much more.


“These Orange Line improvements demonstrate the MBTA’s commitment to rebuilding our system to deliver the long-lasting transit network that the public can be proud of. Our crews and contractors accomplished major improvements, including accessibility upgrades at Ruggles Station and enhancements along the entire corridor, maximizing nonstop work over a five-day period. With uninterrupted access to these track areas, we are able to maximize productivity and make available funds go further,” said Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “We will not rest on recent past successes as this work is vital to continuing to improve the long-term reliability of Orange Line service and the overall experience for all riders. The riding public deserves a safe, modern transit network, and under the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s leadership with the support of the Legislature, investments are being made in transportation that are an investment in quality of life – access to jobs, housing, education, and healthcare – for the public we all serve.”  


Orange Line Work Accomplished


This important work at Ruggles and along the Orange Line corridor was accomplished during five consecutive days of 24/7 access to the Orange Line between Forest Hills and Back Bay, September 10 – 14, which allowed the MBTA to expedite long-needed upgrades in the most cost-efficient manner.  


Ruggles is one of the most used stations in the network, serving riders on the Orange Line, Commuter Rail, and several key bus routes. The MBTA has spent the last few years making improvements to provide riders with a better travel experience.  


The MBTA already accomplished a number of improvements at Ruggles as part of Phase I of the project, including building a new Commuter Rail platform, upgrading the lower busway, adding a new elevator, replacing four existing elevators, and improving paths of travel around the station.  


Phase II of the project is aimed at providing critical accessibility upgrades and improving the overall rider experience throughout the station. During the last five days, crews made concrete repairs at platforms within the station and at the Ruggles Street Bridge. Major concrete repair work also took place along the exit-only stair area at the end of the Ruggles platform – this stairway had previously been out-of-service for many years.  


The MBTA maximized the unencumbered access to the Orange Line track area by accomplishing many other piggybacking projects, including advancing the critical Orange Line signal modernization project. For the last several years, the MBTA has been modernizing its old, analog signals, replacing complicated signal infrastructure with a new, modern, fully digital system. The work that took place over the last five days includes upgrading signals at the complicated track interlocking area at the Forest Hills yard facility and accomplishing major signal cable replacement and termination work at junction boxes throughout the diversion area.  


The long-awaited modernization of the Orange Line signal system has been accelerated under the leadership of Interim Secretary and General Manager Eng. The new digital signal system renews the lifespan of the entire network, provides more efficient communications and system diagnostics, and ultimately provides better service reliability for riders with fewer unplanned service interruptions.  


Additional piggybacking work included the following:



  • As part of the Jackson Square Station Accessibility Improvements project, crews upgraded the station platform, accomplished electrical work in the track area, worked on the platform ceiling, and performed expansion joint repairs in the track area

     

  • Crews made repairs to the staircase at the north end of Green Street

     

  • The MBTA’s Maintenance of Way team accomplished approximately 1400 feet of spot tamping within the Forest Hills yard facility

     

  • Critical maintenance, lighting upgrades, and fan work was accomplished between Massachusetts Avenue and Forest Hills

     

  • Upgrade work took place at the Cedar Street truck pad and within the entire southwest corridor

     

  • Stations were brightened with upgraded painting and all tripping hazards were assessed and removed between Stony Brook and Forest Hills

     

  • Crews performed bridge inspections between Ruggles and Forest Hills

     

  • Tree limb removal and vegetation management was accomplished between Roxbury Crossing and Jackson Square as well as within the Forest Hills yard facility

     

  • Project surveys were accomplished within the Forest Hills yard facility


Significance of Multi-Day Outages


The MBTA is reminding riders that service outages such as these are a critical and necessary part of maintaining the infrastructure improvements that took place as part of the 2024 Track Improvement Program while also making further system upgrades and modernizing the MBTA’s infrastructure. This work cannot be performed during the overnight hours when the MBTA does not operate, and would be extremely inefficient and costly if planned during single weekend outages.


Closing a section of the transit system for multiple days is the most efficient way to perform the MBTA’s routine maintenance, revitalization efforts, inspections, and upgrade work, and combines the efforts of multiple contractors and the MBTA workforce around the clock 24/7 to maximize productivity. This work is necessary and continuous to maintain the reliable service riders count on.