The
Red Line heavy rail maintains its core between Alewife and Bayside (formerly JFK/UMass). Main branch stops are the Park & Ride at
Alewife, North Cambridge, Davis Square, Porter Square, Aggasiz, Harvard Square, Cambridge College, Central Square, Kendall/MIT, Charles/MGH, Park St, Downtown Crossing, South Station, Broadway, Andrew and
Bayside. North Cambridge, Aggasiz and Cambridge College stops are new additions.
- Burlington/Lexington-Dedham/Braintree: The Line is extended to the northwest from Alewife by running under the Minuteman Bike Path and Mass Ave to a Park & Ride at I-95 and then cutting to Burlington for service to the mall and the Middlesex Tpk. The stops north from Alewife are Arlington Center, Arlington Heights, Follen Heights, Lexington Center, a Park & Ride at Pine Meadows near I-95, and Burlington. The line to Braintree is maintained with stops out of Bayside at Scalia Square, Dorchester Shore, North Quincy, Wollaston, Quincy Center and Park & Rides at Quincy Adams and Braintree. These trains run locally north to Burlington in Lexington and the line is dubbed Branch 1. Trains from Burlington also run locally and branch off at Bayside to Dedham following the Ashmont RoW and the Mattapan RoW . Stops to Dedham are Savin Hill, Fields Corner, Shawmut, Ashmont, Milton Village, Central Ave, Mattapan, River St, Fairfield, Readville, East Dedham, Dedham and Riverdale. This line is designated Branch 2. Express Service runs along tandem track from Burlington to Riverdale, stopping in Pine Meadows, Lexington Center, Arlington Center, Alewife, Porter, Harvard, Kendall tunneling under the Charles to Charles/MGH, Park/Downtown, South Station, Bayside, Ashmont, Mattapan, Readville and Riverdale. This line is designated Branch 3.
- Alewife-Stoughton: The Stoughton branch begins from Alewife, following Branch 3 to Bayside, then splitting off along the Branch 1 corridor to Braintree and continuing south and south west alongside commuter rail track and along a utility RoW to Braintree Highlands, Randolph and a Park & Ride at North Stoughton/Rte 24. Stops are at Stoughton/Rte 24, Randolph, Braintree Highlands, Braintree, Quincy Center, North Quincy, Bayside, South Station, Park/Downtown, Charles MGH, Kendall/MIT, Harvard, Porter and Alewife, where it terminates. This line is designated Branch 4.
The
Blue Line heavy rail is extended with a northern branch and a western branch. The core of the Blue Line that serves both branches runs from Charles/MGH to Wonderland. Full service stops are at
Charles/MGH, Government Center, State St, Atlantic (formerly Aquarium),
Maverick, Airport, Woods Island, Orient Heights, Suffolk Downs, Beachmont, Revere Beach and a Park & Ride at
Wonderland.
- S Branch: This line runs from Government Center to the northeast through Lynn to Salem via the Rockport/Newburyport CR line. Stops out of Wonderland are a Park and Ride at River Works, Lynn, East Lynn, Swampscott, Salem State University, Salem Center and Salem Depot.
- W Branch: This branch runs from Wonderland to Charles/MGH and then continues west. Bowdoin station is eliminated, being replaced by an expanded Government Center with a headhouse at Cambridge St. The branch continues to Waltham via Harvard Square and Watertown. It follows a new tunnel under Cambridge St to Charles/MGH, cuts under the Charles River with the Red Line express line adjacent to the Longfellow Bridge, then splits off at Kendall through all new tunnels beneath Broadway, Hampshire St, Cambridge St and Mt Auburn St with stops at Kendall, Inman, Harvard, Mount Auburn and Strawberry Hill. It then follows along and beneath an old RoW to the West with stops at East Watertown, Arsenal, Watertown Square, Bemis, The Bleachery and The Chemistry. The Line terminates at Waltham Center, meeting the Fitchburg CR line and the Green Line.
The
Orange Line heavy rail is greatly expanded and broken up into four branches. The section of the old main route from Forest Hills to Wellington forms the core line of the branches plus a southward extension along the Commuter Rail line. Core stops begin at
Millennium Park to
West Roxbury, Highland, Bellevue, a Park & Ride at
Forest Hills, Green St, Stony Brook, Jackson Square, Roxbury Crossing, Ruggles, Mass Ave/Saint Botolph, Back Bay, South Cove (formerly Tufts Med Center),
Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, State St, Haymarket, North Station, Community College, Sullivan Square, Assembly Square, and a Park & Ride at
Wellington.
- N Branch: This branch begins at Wellington following the Orange Line core route to Back Bay Station where it leaves the core route, turning west and following the Mass Pike through Back Bay, Fenway, Brighton and Newton, where it turns off the commuter rail route and terminates at a Park & Ride at Riverside. Commuter Rail stops along the corridor are replaced with Orange Line service. Stops out of Back Bay are Mass Ave/Hynes, Yawkey, Boston University West, Agganis/Student Village, Cambridge St, Market Plaza, Riverview, Newton Corner, Newtonville, Auburndale and a Park & Ride at Riverside adjacent to the Green Line.
- M Branch: This branch is a spur off the N Branch. It begins at Riverside and splits off just north of Wellington through a tunnel beneath a RoW into Medford. Stops past Wollaston are at Middlesex Ave, Glenwood and Medford Square. The M Branch runs express between North Station, State St, Downtown Crossing and Back Bay Station before continuing to Riverside.
- Q Branch: This branch runs express service between Reading Highlands and Forest Hills along parallel track, with stops at; Reading Highlands, Quannapowitt, Wakefield, Oak Grove, Malden Center, Wellington, North Station, State St, Downtown Crossing, Back Bay, Ruggles, Jackson Square and Forest Hills, then continuing local to Millennium Park.
- R Branch: This branch is the northern portion of the MBTA’s original plans for the Orange Line. It begins at Millennium Park and follows the core route to Wellington. It then continues along the Haverhill CR line north to Reading with stops at River’s Edge, Malden Center, a Park & Ride at Oak Grove, Sylvan, Wyoming Hill, Cedar Park, Melrose Highlands, Greenwood, Wakefield, a Park & Ride at Quannapowitt/I-95, Reading and ending with a Park & Ride at Reading Highlands/I-93. Haverhill Line CR service is moved to share the Lowell Line RoW crossing to the Haverhill RoW via the Wildcat line.
The
Green Line light rail is greatly expanded and upgraded with six branches. Streetcar lines are converted to new tunnel service and the stops on branches out of Kenmore are consolidated. Central Subway stops are at
North Station, Haymarket, Government Center, Park St and Boylston. Branch service is as follows:
- A Branch: This new Green Line branch runs northwest out of North Station along the Fitchburg CR to I-95 in Waltham. It begins at Government Center and runs to North Station, then connecting to the Lechmere Viaduct and to the Fitchburg line. Stops out of North Station are Science Park, Lechmere, Twin City, Union Square, Spring Hill, Porter Square, Richdale, Alewife Brook, East Belmont, Belmont Center, Waverley, Waltham Center, Brandeis/Roberts and a Park & Ride at Cedarwood on I-95.
- B Branch: The new B Branch follows the old “A” Branch streetcar route that once ran to Watertown. This branch terminates at Watertown Square. It runs underneath the old route (Brighton Ave, Cambridge St, Washington St and Galen St). Service begins at North Station and then runs express from Park St to Copley to Kenmore. Stops from Park St are Copley, Kenmore, BU East, BU West, Babcock, Allston Village, Union Square/North Beacon, Washington St, Brighton Center, Beechcroft, Oak Square, Newton Corner and Watertown Square.
- C Branch: The new C Banch follows the old “B” Branch under its old route on Commonwealth Ave to Boston College with consolidated stops, becoming a subway at King’s Corner. Service begins at North Station and makes local stops to Kenmore. Stops from Park St are Boylston, Arlington, Copley, Mass Ave/Hynes, Kenmore, BU East, BU West, Packard's Corner, King’s Corner, Allston St, Washington St, Learnington, Chestnut Hill Ave, Foster and Boston College.
- D Branch: The D Branch remains for its original route from Riverside to North Station with no reroutings. At North Station, the line crosses to Charlestown via Commercial St and the Charlestown Bridge running beneath Route 1 along the waterfront and then running as an elevated line over an old RoW to Sullivan Square. Stops from Riverside to Kenmore are a Park & Ride at Riverside, Woodland, Waban, Eliot, Newton Highlands, Newton Centre, Chestnut Hill, Cleveland Circle, Beaconsfield, Brookline Hills, Brookline Village, Aspinwall, Longwood West and Fenway. Out of North Station, the line makes the following stops: City Square, Navy Yard, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, Community Center, Baldwin St and Sullivan Square.
- E Branch: The E Branch now begins at government center, and splits after Boylston to a new Stuart St tunnel and shares track with the F Branch to Prudential, from which it continues alone beneath Huntington Ave to the Riverway. To the southwest it continues in a new tunnel beneath its old route via Huntington Ave, South Huntington Ave, Centre St and South St to Forest Hills where it terminates. Stops south of Boylston St are Park Square, Clarendon, Prudential, Symphony, Northeastern, Museum of Fine Arts, Longwood East, Brigham Circle, Mission Park, Heath St, Perkins St, Parley Vale, Monument Square and a Park & Ride at Forest Hills.
- F Branch: This new branch runs with the E from Government Center into the Stuart St tunnel to Prudential, where it splits to its own parallen tunnel under Huntington and runs express between Prudential, Northeastern and Longwood East. It then tunnels beneath the Muddy River and meets the D branch at Brookline Village and follows that line to Newton Highlands where it splits southwest into Needham following RoW and abandoned CR track. Stops out of Boylston St are Park Square, Clarendon, Prudential, Northeastern, Longwood East, Riverway, Brookline Villaige, Brookline Hills, Beaconsfield, Cleveland Circle, Chestnut Hill, Newton Center, Newton Highlands, Upper Falls, a Park & Ride at Rte 128/I-95, Needham Heights, Needham Center and Needham Junction.
The
Silver Line is a light rail that replaces the Bus Rapid Transit Silver Line system and runs from South Station to Mattapan. From South Station it tunnels under Essex St to Boylston station. From Boylston, it tunnels under Tremont St to Shawmut Ave, cutting over to Washington St and then to Warren St at Dudley Sq where it continues under Blue Hill Ave to Mattapan. Stops are
South Station, Boylston St, South Cove, Castle Square, Union Park, Blackstone, Mass Ave, Melnea Cass Blvd, Dudley Square, Warren Gardens, Martin Luther King Blvd, Grove Hall, Franklin Park, Franklin Hill, Woodrow, Blue Hill Ave and
Mattapan.
The
Indigo Line replaces the Fairmount CR line with heavy rail rapid transit. This branch also uses a new tunnel linking North and South stations, paralleling commuter rail trains and then tunneling beneath the Charles River alongside the Orange Line. Emerging near the MBTA depot in Somerville it parallels the Lowell CR track splitting to Woburn center by tunnel and then continuing along the Lowell RoW to I-95. Stops along the Indigo Line are
Woburn Anderson, Mishawum, Salem St, Woburn Center, Cross St, Winchester Center, Wedgemere, West Medford, Mystic Valley, Medford Hills/Tufts, Ball Square, Lowell St, Gilman Square, Brickbottom, North Station, Greenway/Hanover, Atlantic (formerly Aquarium),
Rowes Wharf, South Station, Broadway, Newmarket, Upham's Corner, Columbia, Four Corners, Talbot Ave, Morton St, Blue Hill Ave, Cummin’s Highway, Fairmount, Readville, and a Park & Ride at I-95/93 at
Westwood Station. Lowell CR service along the line is cut back and transfers to the Indigo Line occur at North Station, Brickbottom and Woburn Anderson.
The
Teal Line is a new light rail line that is made up of new tunnels and refurbished RoW. The line begins underground at Cleveland Circle and follows beneath the Beacon St Green Line RoW to Kenmore Square. It then follows a new tunnel under The Esplanade (in the footprint of a downgraded Storrow Drive) allowing an alternative path through Back Bay to Government Center where the Line cuts beneath the North End and the Boston Harbor alongside the Sumner and Callahan tunnels. Emerging in East Boston, the line runs under Marginal Street, across the Chelsea River into Chelsea, along the CR and Yellow Line RoW through South Everett where it goes under Ferry and Broadway until joining the North Point RoW and continuing on through Saugus to Lynn. Stops out of Park St are
Public Garden, Dartmouth Landing, Charlesgate, Kenmore, St Mary’s St, Kent St, Coolidge Corner, Summit Ave, Brandon Hall, Washington Square, Dean Rd and
Cleveland Circle. Cleveland Station is relocated slightly south and serves as a junction and transfer hub for Green and Teal light rail between the Riverside line, the Beacon St line and the Boston College line. To the north out of Park St stops are at
Govt. Center, Greenway/Hanover, Commercial St, Central Square, East Marina, Chelsea Works, Chelsea, 2nd St, Everett Square, Glendale Square, Eastern Ave/Broadway, Linden Square, Salem St, Cliftondale, Elmwood Ave, Saugus, Summer St, Market Square, Lynn Common, Central Ave and
Lynn Station.
The
Yellow Line is the Urban Ring light rail and is made up almost entirely of new tunnels, while also utilizing some RoW and CR lines. This line has an Outer Loop and an Inner Ring as well as a spur to Revere through Everett and Malden. The Rings connect all other branches of the MBTA. Both rings begin at the
Airport stop (Blue) with a loop to all airport terminals (
A,B,C,E). The line then continues along the Blue Line to
Wood Island where it branches off to Chelsea and parallels the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail line, with stops at
Bellingham,
Chelsea (Commuter Rail, Teal),
2nd St (Teal) and
Gateway; meeting the Orange and Green lines at
Sullivan Square.
- The Inner Ring leaves Sullivan Square to the southwest through Lechmere (Green A), Kendall/MIT (Red, Blue), Mass Ave/MIT, Cambridgeport and Boston University West (Green BC, Orange MN). It then turns to the east to Fenway (Teal), Longwood East (Green EF, junction with Outer Ring), Ruggles (Orange QR, Commuter Rail), Dudley Square (Silver), Dudley Common, Newmarket (Indigo), a junction between Inner and Outer rings, Andrew (Red), South Boston, L St, and City Point. Turning northwest it goes through Dry Dock, Seaport and World Trade Center. It can then either branch to the Ted Williams Tunnel to rejoin the ring at the airport terminals, or continue to stops at Courthouse and South Station sharing its terminus with Silver Line trains coming from the opposite direction. Trains approaching the Airport from the north are dubbed Y1 trains. Trains approaching from the south are dubbed Y2 trains. Trains approaching South Station are dubbed Y3 trains.
- The Outer Loop cuts southwest to Brickbottom (Indigo, Commuter Rail), Union Square (Green A, Commuter Rail), Shady Hill, Harvard Square (Red, Blue), Harvard Stadium, Barry’s Corner, Cambridge St (Orange MN)Allston Village (Green B), King’s Corner (Green C), turns southeast through Coolidge Corner (Teal) and Longwood West (Green D) and meets the Inner Ring at Longwood East (Green EF). It continues southeast to Roxbury Crossing (Orange QR), Jackson Square (Orange QR), Egleston Square, Humboldt Ave and Franklin Park (Silver). It then turns northeast along the Indigo Line to Columbia (Indigo), Upham’s Corner (Indigo), a junction between Inner and Outer rings, Edward Everett Square and Bayside (Red Line) ending at a new JFK/UMass near the university on Harbor Point. All trains with destinations at JFK/UMass are dubbed Y4 Trains.
- The Northeast Branch follows the Outer Ring from JFK/UMass to Gateway, where it splits and follows a RoW to stops at Hendersonville, West Everett, South Malden, Centre St, Cross St, Eastern Ave/Broadway, Linden Square and ending with a Park & Ride at Northgate off of Rte 1. Trains coming from Northgate cannot go to the airport out of Hendersonville, but must continue towards Gateway and Sullivan Square. All trains with destinations at Northgate are dubbed Y5 trains.
The Commuter Rail has many metro Boston stops eliminated in favor of rapid transit, to improve travel times from outer stops. Many of the Rail lines have also seen service extended further out to population areas previously without rail options. Rhode Island and New Hampshire rail authorities share responsibility where CR lines run to their states. Amtrak also provides funding for far-flung rail lines.
The Fitchburg Line has been extended into
Gardner, and a split after Rte 128 goes to
Clinton via Wayland along a RoW. The Stoughton Line has been extended to both
Fall River/Newport and
New Bedford via Taunton. The Needham Line has been cut off before the turn north, and is now extended to
Medway via Millis. A branch off the Worcester Line in Framingham follows a RoW into Marlborough to
Clinton and can loop back to Worcester or up to Fitchburg. Additional lines leave Worcester, one connecting with
Providence and another to
Webster. On the Franklin Line the spur to
Foxborough is upgraded to regular service running through to the Providence Line; while a spur to Forge Park is extended to
Milford and the main line extended to
Woonsocket RI. The Providence Line is extended to
North Kingstown via TF Green. The Middleborough/Lakeville Line is extended to
Wareham/Hyannis. The Greenbush Line is extended south to
Marshfield. The Lowell Line is extended to
Concord NH via Manchester. The Haverhill Line is extended to
Dover NH. A Branch off the Newburyport/Rockport lines goes to
Topsfield via Danvers. The Newburyport line is extended to Portsmouth NH. One of the largest additions supporting the commuter rail is the
North-South Station Link; a six track tunnel under the Expressway tunnels, allowing for two lines of CR/Amtrak service and the Indigo Line. This allows the expansion of direct service from destinations out of South Station to points North and unites the Northeast Corridor with Downeaster service to Maine. In addition, several old RoW and some new tracts have been built/refurbished creating a Fitchburg/Worcester/Framingham Connector, creating a MetroWest Loop through the urban environs of eastern MA. This loops allows rail service connecting the cities of Boston, Fitchburg, Framingham, Worcester and Providence.
Fitchburg/Wachusett Line:
North Station, Union Square, Porter Square, Belmont Center, Waltham, Kendal Green, Hastings, Silver Hill, Lincoln, Concord, West Concord, South Acton, Littleton/Rte-495, Ayer, Shirley, North Leominster, Fitchburg, North Wachusett, Gardner
Clinton Line:
North Station, Porter Square, Waltham, Weston, Wayland, Sudbury, Gleasondale, Hudson, Berlin, Clinton → Fitchburg-Worcester Connector
Lowell/Manchester NH/Concord NH Line:
North Station, West Medford, Winchester Center, Mishawaum, North Woburn, Wilmington, North Billerica, Lowell → Tyngsborough, Pheasant Lane, Nashua, Merrimack, Manchester Airport, Manchester, Pembroke, Concord
Newburyport/Portsmouth NH Line:
North Station, Chelsea, Wonderland, Lynn, Salem Depot, Beverly, North Beverly, Hamilton/Wehnam, Ipswich, Rowley, Newburyport → Seabrook, Hampton, Portsmouth NH
Rockport Line:
North Station, Chelsea, Lynn, Salem Depot, Beverly, Montserrat, Pride’s Crossing, Beverly Farms, Manchester, West Gloucester, Gloucester, Rockport
Topsfield Line:
North Station, Chelsea, Lynn, Salem Depot, Peabody, Liberty Tree, Danvers, Topsfield
Haverhill/Dover Line:
North Station, Wilmington, Ballardvale, Andover, Lawrence, Bradford, Haverhill → Plaistow, East Kingston, Exeter, Newfields, Greenland, Portsmouth
Methuen/Rockaway:
North Station, Wilmington, Lawrence, Methuen, Rockaway Park
Worcester Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, Auburndale, Wellesley Farms, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley, Natick, West Natick, Framingham, Ashland, Cordaville, Westborough, Grafton, Worcester Union Station
Fitchburg/Worcester/Framingham Loop Connector:
Fitchburg, North Leominster, Clinton, West Boylston, Greendale, Worcester Union Station, Grafton, Westborough, Cordaville, Ashland, Framingham, Fayville, Marlborough, Northborough, Berlin → Connect @ Clinton
Worcester-Webster Line:
Worcester Line to Boston ← Worcester Union Station, Auburn, Oxford, Webster
Medway Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, Forest Hills, West Roxbury, Needham Junction, Hersey, Dover, Medfield, Millis, Medway
Franklin/Woonsocket Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, Ruggles, Readville, Endicott, Dedham Corp Center, Islington, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, Windsor Gardens, Plimptonville, Walpole, Norfolk, Franklin → Blackstone, Woonsocket
Milford Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, Ruggles, Readville, Endicott, Dedham Corp Center, Islington, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, Windsor Gardens, Plimptonville, Walpole, Norfolk, Franklin, Forge Park/Rte 495, Bellingham, Milford
Foxborough Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, Readville, Endicott, Dedham Corp Center, Islington, Norwood Central, Walpole, Patriot Place, Foxborough → Providence Line
Providence/Worcester Connector:
Providence, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Woonsocket, Millville, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Millbury, Quinsigamond Village, Worcester Union Station
Providence RI/North Kingstown RI Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, Ruggles, University Ave, Canton Junction, Sharon, Mansfield, Attleboro, South Attleboro, Pawtucket, Providence, TF Green Airport, North Kingstown
Fall River/Newport RI Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, University Ave, Canton Junction, Stoughton, North Easton, Easton Village, Raynham Park, Taunton, East Taunton, Assonet, Fall River Depot, Battleship Cove/Fall River → Melville, Newport
Taunton/New Bedford Line:
South Station, Back Bay Station, University Ave, Canton Junction, Stoughton, North Easton, Easton Village, Raynham, Taunton → East Freetown, King’s Highway/New Bedford, Whale’s Tooth/New Bedford
Wareham/Hyannis Line:
South Station, Bayside, Braintree, Randolph/Holbrook, Montello, Brockton, Campello, Bridgewater, Middleborough/Lakeville, Wareham, Buzzards Bay → Sandwich, Hyannis
Plymouth Line:
South Station, Bayside, Braintree, South Weymouth, Abington, Whitman, Hanson, Halifax, Plymouth, Village Landing
Kingston Line:
South Station, Bayside, Braintree, South Weymouth, Abington, Whitman, Hanson, Halifax, Kingston
Green Harbor Line:
South Station, Bayside, Braintree, East Weymouth, West Hingham, Nantasket Junction, Cohassat, North Scituate, Greenbush, Marshfield, Green Harbor
Moonliner night bus service makes up for the closure of T rail and regular bus lines at 12:30am. These buses are either standard length or the double-long variety. Moonliner service runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 12:30am to 4:00am along established routes, roughly serving the same corridors as rail system. Service varies from every quarter-hour to every hour depending on ridership. There are four main hubs where buses depart. The four hubs are linked by the M1 route. Kenmore Square serves as the terminus for routes M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6. South Station serves routes M7, M8, M9 and M10, . Govt Center serves routes M11, M12, M13 and M14. North Station serves routes M15, M16 and M17.
Lines
Red Line
- Branch 1 (Burlington to Braintree)
- Branch 2 (Alewife to Dedham via Ashmont)
- Branch 3 (Burlington to Dedham Express via Ashmont)
- Branch 4 (Alewife to Stoughton Express via Braintree)
Blue Line
- S Branch (Govt Center to Salem Depot via Lynn)
- W Branch (Wonderland to Waltham Center via Watertown)
Green Line
- A Branch (Govt Center to Cedarwood via Porter Square)
- B Branch (North Station to Watertown Square via Kenmore [Back Bay Express])
- C Branch (North Station to Boston College via Kenmore)
- D Branch (Sullivan Square to Riverside via Kenmore)
- E Branch (Govt Center to Forest Hills via Longwood East)
- F Branch (Govt Center to Needham Junction via Longwood East, Newton Highlands [Back Bay/Fenway Express])
Orange Line
- N Branch (Wellington to Riverside via Back Bay)
- M Branch (Riverside to Medford Square via Back Bay [Downtown Express])
- R Branch (Millennium Park to Reading Highlands via Wellington)
- Q Branch (Millennium Park to Reading Highlands via Wellington [Express])
Silver Line (South Station to Mattapan via Boylston)
Indigo Line (Woburn Anderson to Westwood Station via South Station)
Teal Line (Lynn Station to Cleveland Circle via Kenmore)
Yellow Line - Urban Ring
- Y1 Towards Airport from the North
- Y2 Towards Airport from the South
- Y3 Towards Towards South Station
- Y4 Towards JFK/UMass
- Y5 Towards Northgate
Commuter Rail
- Rockport Line
- Newburyport/Portsmouth NH Line
- Topsfield Line
- Haverhill/Dover NH Line
- Rockaway NH Line
- Lowell/Concord NH Line
- Fitchburg/Wachusett Line
- Worcester Line
- Clinton Line
- Fitchburg-Worcester-Framingham Loop Connector
- Providence RI-Worcester Connector
- Worcester-Webster Connector
- Medway Line
- Foxborough Line
- Franklin/Woonsocket RI Line
- Milford Line
- Providence/North Kingstown RI Line
- Fall River/Newport RI Line
- Taunton/New Bedford Line
- Lakeville/Wareham/Hyannis Line
- Plymouth Line
- Kingston Line
- Marshfield Line
Moonliner Night Bus Service (last bus leaves at 4:00am)
- M1 -- North Station to Kenmore Square via Govt Center, South Station / Loop
- M2 -- Kenmore Square to Arlington Center via Mass Ave
- M3 -- Kenmore Square to Bayside via Mass Ave
- M4 -- Kenmore Square to Watertown Center via Oak Square
- M5 -- Kenmore Square to Boston College via Comm Ave
- M6 -- Kenmore Square to Newton Centre via Beacon St
- M7 -- South Station to Milton Village via Dorchester Ave
- M8 -- South Station to North Quincy via Neponset Ave
- M9 -- South Station to Waterfront/East Boston/Wonderland via I-90/Bennington
- M10-- South Station to Mattapan via Washington St/Blue Hill Ave
- M11 -- Govt Center to City Point via Brigham Circle
- M12 -- Govt Center to Roslindale via Huntington Ave/Centre St
- M13 -- Govt Center to Cleary Square via Hyde Park Ave
- M14 -- Govt Center to Belmont via Concord Ave
- M15 -- North Station to Medford Center via Highland Ave/High St
- M16 -- North Station to Everett/Charlestown via Rutherford Ave/Broadway
- M17 -- North Station to Oak Grove via Wellington
Musings on Reasoning:
Many of the expansions put forth in this proposal are purely out of a desire to see public transit expanded into the metro-Boston area, leading to more businesses springing into often neglected areas, and a reduced car dependency on residents further afield from the city proper.
Extending the Red Line to Arlington and Lexington was part of the original proposal for the line in the 1970s, but it was beaten back by financing and NIMBY sentiments in Arlington. While this line would be highly unlikely to ever be constructed in the modern era, it would open up transit opportunities for communities in which there is no nearby commuter rail. While the Right of Way that the track was planned for has since been converted into a popular Rail Trail, tunneling beneath the RoW and Mass Ave would expand business further to a thriving Arlington Center, and inject more business into a fledgling commercial district in Arlington Heights. Commuters in Lexington would be served by four stops and a one-seat ride to central business districts like Kendall Square and Downtown Boston. The Park and Ride station near Rte 128 would take pressure off of Alewife station, Rte 128 and Rte 2; which were not designed for the car capacity that they currently carry. This extension also provides outbound commuters access to office parks along Rte 128, and the Park and Ride could serve as a bus terminal for trips farther afield.
The extension to Burlington connects the Burlington Mall and Middlesex Tpk commercial area with the transit system. Adding infill stops in Cambridge and Dorchester brings service closer to many residents, and the slow-down to downtown is mitigated by constructing an express line -- crazy expensive, but necessary. Adding a spur to east Stoughton would allow T riders access to the retail district along Rte 24 and take additional pressure off the over-worked highway by giving commuters from southern Mass access to rapid transit.
Extending the Blue Line to Charles/MGH would give it a transfer with the Red Line, allowing passengers on their way to the Airport and points north to make a single transfer at Charles/MGH, taking stress off of the Green Line at Park St and Govt Center and off of the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing and State St. Further extending the Blue Line into Cambridge takes additional pressure off of the the Red Line from Harvard Square to downtown Boston, and brings rail service to thousands of additional Cambridge and Somerville residents. Stretching the Blue Line north to Lynn has long been in the plans, but has been delayed for a lack of funds. Bringing the line further to Salem gives these up-and-coming North Shore cities a more regular link to Boston than the Commuter Rail, as well as some local service of their own. Connecting the line to Watertown and Waltham in the west provides the downtowns of these two busy first-ring suburbs with one seat rides to Harvard Square, Kendall Square and Boston.
Bringing the Orange Line to Reading was part of the original plans in the 1980s, but funding and NIMBY sentiment nixed it. The towns of Melrose, Wakefield and Reading would all benefit from more regular service to Boston and an influx of business in their communities. The Park and Ride stations at Rte 128/I-95 and I-93 would take pressure off these freeways, helping to defray the miserable traffic that occurs at the junction between the two, as well as helping to alleviate I-93 southbound traffic going into Boston. The rerouting of the Haverhill Commuter Rail to the Lowell Line RoW to Wildcat allows faster rail service to communities farther out on the Haverhill Line. Express track into downtown would speed commutes to riders in population hubs during rushour. The spur to Medford Center needs to be underground, due to development on the at-grade RoW, but would link this car-dependent commercial center to the transit system.
Bringing the line to Needham was also originally planned, but NIMBYism led the MBTA to change their plans to a less frequent and less efficient Commuter Rail line. Engineering difficuties and environmental issues in the swamps bordering West Roxbury and Needham prohibit building up the RoW through them, but the Orange Line can finally connect the Boston neighborhoods of Roslindale and West Roxbury to downtown by rapid transit, and truncate several bus lines that now make needless trips to Forest Hills from Roslindale Square. The Orange Line branch along I-90 takes pressure off of the Green Line through Back Bay, Fenway, Brighton and Newton, as well as speeding the commuter rail from Worcester by replacing several Newton stops with T service. Connecting at Riverside takes pressure off of the D Branch as well as off of Rte 128 and the Mass Pike. This line would be very expensive to construct due to a need to move Commuter Rail track over and/or tunnel/cave alongside the track from a lack of space.
To combat congestion on the main branch a new tunnel could be built beneath the main tunnel between North Station and Back Bay Station removes a bottleneck where branches merge. Third track cut-arounds along the SW Corridor trackway allows the express service to continue to Forest Hills, creating continuous express service from Reading to Jamaica Plain/West Roxbury.
The radically updated Green Line is highly expensive but provides incredible benefits to the most used and most outdated LRV system in the nation. Revamping the line with more modern battery/electric rolling stock and tunneling or elevating all street car lines is costly, but the resulting efficiency of new trains, longer cars (3 long?), the consolidated stations and pre-board ticketing would greatly improve the speed and comfort of trips down this line. Many of these improvements are started with the central subway. The bottlenecks at Park St and Government Center are disastrous for service. Three major new features improve efficiency. Rerout the current E Line off of the Copley bound tracks and tunnel under Stuart St to its current route under Huntington Ave. This tunnel would split off at Government Center and parallel the main track to Park and Boylston. This would take the pressure of all E Line trains off of the main line. Eventually replacing the old C line with the Teal Line would further reduce the number of trains on the Kenmore bound tracks. The new F line follows the new E track and would connect to the D line route at Brookline Village via a new tunnel branching off from Brigham Circle under the Fens into Brookline. The F would split from the E onto parallel tracks after Prudential allowing for more rapid service through Back Bay and Fenway. The final main improvement would build another parallel or submerged tunnel from Park St to Copley and Kenmore allowing for express service along this heavily travelled corridor.
Individually, the street car lines are consolidated and improved. The old B and C Lines are sunk beneath their original routes, and surface buses can replace service to those stops that have been rendered defunct. The old surface rights of way could be utilized as additional traffic lanes, parking or, preferably as linear parks along Commonwealth Ave and Beacon St, making both boulevards more pedestrian friendly and alleviating congestion at traffic intersections. The sprawling turnarounds that the light-rail line required would become obsolete and the property could be developed around the new terminus stations.
A new line based off of the spur to Union Square in Somerville is brought through Cambridge, Belmont and Waltham by following the Fitchburg Commuter line. It releases pressure on the the Commuter Rail, allowing it to bypass Waverly and Belmont, leaving the Indigo line to connect these commercial districts to Cambridge and Boston. It also eases pressure on the Red and Green lines through Cambridge and Somerville. Continuing to Bentley University, Waltham Center and Brandeis University, the line gives the colleges and business district one-ride access to Cambridge and Boston. The Park and Ride station on Rte 128 takes pressure off of the Green Line D and the Orange Line N, while encouraging more commuters to opt for public transit, rather than drive downtown. This extension beyond Porter Square will require some expensive tunneling and/or seizing of private property along the RoW to allow for widening.The replacement for the old A line reconnects parts of Allston, Brighton, Newton and Watertown underserved by rapid transit, and should be sunk. The E line is sunk along its existing route, and brought back to Forest Hills, taking pressure off of the Orange Line and returning Green Line service to Jamaica Plain. The Green Line spur into Charlestown reconnects parts of the neighborhood to the T after the Orange Line was rerouted. It would require the rebuilding of the Charlestown Bridge; something that is in the planning stages.
Alternatively, with so much effort made to get these lines off of the roadways, it may be worth it to convert the lines from Light Rail to Heavy Rail, allowing 4-6 long subway cars along the Green/Teal lines. This would add costs to updating the D line RoW, which is largely maintained as it is if the Green Line system remains Light Rail.
The Indigo Line is an all new rapid transit line; part of which has been in the planning stages for some time. The southern portion of the line replaces the Fairmount commuter rail branch and uses those tracks terminating at the I-95/I-93 Junction. The southern portion adds stations onto the Fairmount Commuter Rail service, giving areas of Mattapan and Dorchester much needed access to transit. At South Station the Indigo line makes use of one of the most significant developments in Boston rail infrastructure: the North-South Station Connector. Running alongside Commuter Rail and Amtrak trains, adjacent to the Central Artery, this new railway tunnel allows thru service beneath downtown Boston directly connecting North and South stations and adding two stations along the waterfront.
The Indigo line then heads west, opening up land for development alongside the relocated Lechmere stop near the Somerville Commuter Rail depot (currently being developed as North Point similar to the Assembly Square development). The Indigo Line takes over the Green Line extension into Somerville and Medford that is currently being planned. This extension brings transit to a woefully underserved and very densely populated community. Bringing the line further into Winchester and Woburn would connect the commercial centers of these towns with Boston. Such an expansion would be very expensive and require tunnels in downtown Woburn, but would greatly expand the impact and ridership of the T, as well as relieve I-95/93 and Rtes 3 and 2A through Woburn, Winchester and Arlington. The Red Line would also be relieved of some ridership originating from Davis and Porter. Crossing the Mystic River in Medford would require rebuilding the bridge crossing as well as retooling the West Medford station to avoid at grade crossings tying up traffic flow.
The Teal Line is another all new line that requires a network of new tunnels. This line begins at the new Cleveland Circle hub and follows the old Green Line C route beneath the boulevard to Kenmore Square. Diving under the Storrow Drive footprint to Government Center, the Teal Line provides another option to get to Kenmore and Brookline from Downtown, taking pressure off the Green and Orange Lines, as well as providing nearby transit to residents of Back Back close to the Charles River. Adding a stop in the North End gives that historic neighborhood direct access to the T. Crossing the Boston Harbor alongside the Callahan tunnel, the line brings service to more western areas of East Boston than the Blue Line. Turning north, the line expands service in Chelsea and Everett; servicing neighborhoods that previosly relied on MBTA buses. The line from Rte 1 to Lynn through Saugus extends transit into communities used to driving on Rte 1 or taking the Commuter Rail from Lynn to get to Boston. It also provides local service along the rail corridor, allowing residents access to local commercial areas in Revere, Saugus and Lynn without driving.
This line would be among the last phases of this megaproject overhaul, being phased in to replace Green Line service, but still using the same rolling stock. It requires Storrow Drive to be downgraded to a surface boulevard and Soldiers Field Road to be routed onto the Mass Pike. The northern half would come later. Should the Green Line be upgraded to Heavy Rail, the Teal Line should likewise be upgraded, to allow operation of the same rolling stock.
The realization of the Silver Line as rail replaces the Silver Line buses with a subway, properly replacing the old elevated train. This line relieves the woefully under-served neighborhood of Roxbury, which has been without rapid transit for 25 years. This line also services parts of Dorchester and Mattapan, bringing rapid transit to these communities and taking pressure off of the Red Line to Ashmont and Mattapan, while also providing the Seaport District with a rail connection to downtown. Tunneling beneath these areas of historic Boston will be a daunting and expensive task. Alternatively, this line could be built elevated in a more modern, less invasive scheme than the old Orange Line elevated. This would still require to be tunnelled along Tremont and Essex, and a portal would require seizing private property. The line could alternatively be rerouted beneath the SE Expressway RoW to South Station, but would lose its connection with Boylston street and the Green Line.
The Yellow Line is the much anticipated Urban Ring, realized as a rail rapid transit system rather than the series of Bus Rapid Transit routes currently under discussion. Making the Urban Ring a rail project requires many new tunnels, track upgrades, bridge renewal and other infrastructure projects, but succeeds in creating a two-tier urban ring connecting the outer neighborhoods and taking pressure off of the downtown transfer stations. The stations at the airport terminals allow travelers from the communities north of Boston to reach Logan without going downtown to the Blue Line, or having to drive, alleviating pressure on Rte 1 and 1A. The two rings splitting in Charlestown connect local commercial hubs around the city center. Pressure is taken off of Park St, Govt Center, State St, Kenmore, North Station and other central transfer stations and gives passengers more convenient options to get to their destinations.
A branch of the Yellow Line leaves the ring design to serve the communities of Everett, Malden and Revere in areas that have been without good transit options. The station on Rte 1 allows southbound commuters another option to get downtown or to commercial districts served by the Yellow Line (Harvard, Kendall, etc.).
An additional loop farther out could be built as bus rapid transit to connect Wonderland, Everett, Wellington, Medford Square, West Medford, Arlington Center, Belmont Center, Waltham Center, Newton Center, Chestnut Hill, Forest Hills, Dorchester Center and North Quincy. This would be separate from the Yellow Line system.
The Commuter Rail expansions and subtractions all serve to speed commutes and extend the reach of the MBTA farther afield into communities that were previously car dependent. Many commuter stations in the metro-Boston area are replaced by expanded T service, allowing commuter trains to bypass them and get downtown faster. The North-South Station connector is also a boon to the Commuter Rail system, allowing thru service for MBTA and Amtrak trains. Line extensions connects many farther flung municipalities to Boston, easing commuter traffic on the roadways as well as taking pressure off of Logan airport, by giving passengers access to a number of regional airports in Worcester, Providence and Manchester. A series of loop connectors link secondary cities in metro-West to one another and to Boston; Fitchburg, Worcester and Providence now have direct service to one another without needing to take the train into Boston first, or drive. This interconnection could help to revitalize these cities. It is possible that a plan even more ambitious than this one could extend the commuter rail loop farther, connecting Lawrence and Lowell, as well as Attleboro and Brockton to the loop. This would require extensive new track and the seizure of private property.
Haverhill via Wildcat. Danvers via Peabody and Salem.