- Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Delivers $600 Million to MBTA
Jacquelyn Goddard, Director of Communications, MassDOT
BOSTON — Today, members of the MassDOT and MBTA boards of directors voted on an agreement to deliver $600 million in state funding to the MBTA for rail and station upgrades that will improve safety and reliability across the system. The funding was made possible by Governor Maura Healey’s proposal in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget that leverages Fair Share funding to support infrastructure investments. The total amount of funding unlocked through this provision is expected to grow throughout the Fiscal Year.
The vote by both the MassDOT and the MBTA boards of directors established the Rail Reliability Program (RRP) and the Station Accessibility and Resiliency (STAR) Program. These programs will address critical asset and capital needs and maintain the MBTA’s commitment to safety, service and sustainability. The funding will also support the MBTA’s Track Improvement Program which is making significant progress to remove slow zones across all lines, new Red and Orange Line cars, new Commuter Rail coaches, and station construction.
“Our administration is proud to be delivering the most state funding to the MBTA in 20 years. Secretary Tibbits-Nutt and General Manager Eng have been delivering significant results when it comes to improving safety and reliability at the T, and this funding will allow us to build on that progress even further,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re grateful to the Legislature and the MassDOT and MBTA Boards for their partnership on this funding mechanism that will continue to deliver more resources for transportation infrastructure improvements across the state this year and for years to come.”
“MBTA riders have already been seeing the results of increased state investment – slow zones are getting lifted, new cars are being put on the tracks, and stations are receiving upgrades,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This unprecedented agreement will allow us to dedicate even more resources to improving service across all lines and delivering the world-class transportation system that Massachusetts deserves.”
The agreement between MassDOT and MBTA will provide:
- $85 million for the Track Improvement Program (TIP), which is a major track and replacement initiative to eliminate speed restrictions and bring all tracks into a five-year state of good repair.
- $148 million for new Red and Orange Line cars, which have proven essential for ensuring reliable and accessible service and increased capacity.
- $193 million for the procurement of bi-level Commuter Rail coaches to enhance capacity on the network and replace all single-level coaches.
- $95 million to advance construction projects at stations that will improve accessibility, resilience, and other needed repairs.
- $80 million to improve power and system resiliency, including the infrastructure to generate power, move transit rail cars, support key network systems such as traction power and substations, and provide facilities with energy.
“We are working very hard to ensure that General Manager Eng and his team have everything they need so we have a safe, reliable system for everyone who uses the MBTA. Today’s vote helps to provide the support and infrastructure to sustain ongoing projects and make key improvements that will be felt across the system for years to come,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt.
“From day one, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made transportation infrastructure a priority, and that is why we have been able to begin rebuilding to deliver safe, more reliable, and improved services for our riders and all the communities we serve. I thank Administration and Finance and Secretary Tibbits-Nutt for their continued support,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “We remain steadfast in our dedication to addressing and tackling longstanding infrastructure needs, as demonstrated by the vote of confidence from the MassDOT and MBTA Boards. This represents a strong commitment to the needs of the public today and to how we plan and build for future generations, delivering meaningful results that ensure a balanced multimodal transportation system, improving quality of life while supporting economic vitality.”
“Today’s vote enables our administration to continue making transformative investments in transportation by maximizing the impact of the new, voter-approved Fair Share revenue,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “I am pleased that we will deliver on the commitment we made in our Fiscal Year 2025 budget to improve transportation for Massachusetts by funding these critical projects.”
“This agreement will bring critical funding to allow us to continue the progress we have made in addressing the important ongoing capital needs of the MBTA. Working together we can address the significant funding challenges that the system faces today while building toward our vision of a world class transportation system,” said Incoming MBTA Chair Tom McGee.
“We congratulate the MBTA and MassDOT for taking bold and necessary steps toward securing sustainable funding with the Rail Reliability Program and the STAR Program. These investments demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing safety, reliability, and accessibility, ensuring that our transit system continues to meet the needs of all riders. The funding dedicated to critical track improvements and modernizing the Red and Orange Line fleets will provide long-term benefits for riders,” shared Jarred Johnson, Executive Director, TransitMatters.
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