| MBTA News and Projects |
| PROJECTS UNDERWAY UPDATED 4/18/04 CONFIRMED PROJECTS AND OR NEWS ITEMS Arborway Return! 12/13/01 The MBTA has been ordered to restore service all the way back to Arborway on the "E" line. This will bring trolley service back to that area for the first time since 1984. No start up date is available however all the track must be replaced and rebuilt. New transit line, the Indigo Line: 4/9/01 A study is underway to see if an old Commuter and Amtrak route through Dorchester can be brought up to Rapid Transit status. Residents and groupd have complained about the lack of transit service here as well as the need for it. The MBTA is now studying the idea. Green Line Relocation - UPDATED 4/17/04 The EL will come down this year! Last day of operatation June 18th. Get your photos NOW!!!!! New Blue Line Cars -12/13/01 The MBTA will have now Blue Line cars in the next 3-4 years if all goes well. From what I understand a contract will be awarded to Seimens build new Blue Line cars to the same specs as the old cars. The old cars will be rebuilt and sent to the Orange Line for overflow. Six Car trains on Blue Line Slowly several staions are being expanded for 6 car trains on the Blue Line. One problem is Bowdoin Station. It is very possible that this station may be abandoned as a six car platform can not be built here. However there are some ideas as having 6 car train platforms for inbound only to off load and only board 4 cars on the return trip. Type 8 Cars - UPDATED 8/27/01 Well it happened again in case you missed it a train of Type 8's derailed on the "B" line taking out 400 feet of overhead wire. The end result is that the MBTA has taken the cars out of service and is now thinking about pulling them all together, though BREDA techs are in Boston trying to sort the problem out. Now Orange Line Cars The 01200's have served the Orange Line for close to 20 years. The MBTA is expected to order 18 more cars to suppliment the existing fleet. PCC Restorations Mattapan Line The MBTA continues to rebuld the PCC cars that serve the Ashmonnt to Mattapan High Speed Trolley Line. Each car is being rebult at the Orient Hights shops in East Boston and receiving a coat of origianl MTA white and orange. Greenbush line UPDATED 8/26/01 The MBTA has gotten approval to begin work on the Greenbush Line. The Greenbush line runs through the south shore to the Scituate - Marshfield town line. Service should start by 2005. PROJECTS ON THE DRAWING BOARD OR UNDER CONSIDERATION Blue Line Expansion? There are several proposals and ideas to extend the Blue Line northward from Wonderland to Lynn, and maybe to Beverly, along the north shore. IDEA ONE - Extend along the old Narrow Guage right of way. This would involve an expensive crossing of the Saugus River. IDEA TWO - Turn west in Revere and run along side the B&M commuter route to Lynn and beyond. One verison of this idea re routes the Blue Line from the Wonderland staion, making the Wonderland stop on the west side of the dog track IDEA THREE - There has been suggestions to build a spur off of the Blue Line into Chelsea and Charlestown. This is not official yet but there are groups pushing this idea. Commuter Rail Expansion There are a number of proposals to extend commuter rail to Fall River via a number of routes from Stoughton Mass. There are several other versions of this idea. Trolleys for downtown? A group is trying to promote the idea of using vintage trolleys to roll bewteen North Station and South Station via the corridor that will be created when the Central Artery highway is demolished. (PCC's anyone?) Another proposal uses monorails for the same route. Lechmere and Beyond? There are long range plans to extend the Green Line to Tufts University from the present Lechmere terminal. I have not heard any further on this idea. Urban Ring This proposal under study would build a transit "loop" that crosses all transit lines before they intersect with each other. The purpose would be to allow persons to change from one line to another without having to go into dowtown. Blue meets Red? Another idea that the MBTA is looking into is to link the Red and Blue lines at Charles MGH. These two lines are the only two MBTA transit routes that do not cross. This link would fix that. RETURN TO HOME PAGE |