General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

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So the reason that the CIP doesn't include any rail expansion appears to be because the document that establishes a strategic vision is going to be two years late.

 
Teban54 said:
Don't Needham Line riders still have the option to transfer to OL at Forest Hills and Ruggles?

The only issue is with transfers to outbound buses, if most of the bus routes between Forest Hills and Roslindale right now are cut back to Roslindale after OL+1. However, that's a pretty minor issue. The West Roxbury section of the Needham Line also has the alternative of the 35/36 buses for this transfer, and I can't imagine many Needham residents seeking places south of Roslindale by bus.
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This is an interesting question and also could be studied. Essentially, what are the destinations of bus riders who take one bus to Forest Hills and then another bus from Forest Hills? Some potential issues might be addressable by increasing capacity on existing Roslindale buses like the 14, or adding new lines.

One question I’ve always had in my mind with extending the orange to Roslindale is actually just have so many new buses would be accommodated? Because I do think it would make a lot more sense to make Roslindale a major bus hub, and what infrastructure changes in the MBTA parking lot and on Belgrade could support that.
 
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www.bostonglobe.com

MBTA board approves ‘nuts and bolts’ capital budget, leaving billions in critical projects unfunded - The Boston Globe

On Tuesday, the T’s board of directors approved a $9.8 billion, five-year budget for construction projects, while also leaving more than $12.4 billion in needs without funding.
www.bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com
More than $3.8 billion in funding is dedicated to rapid transit investments, including buying new Red and Orange line vehicles and making upgrades to outdated signal equipment on the subway lines to boost the frequency and reliability of service. The budget also allocates more than $2.5 billion for the commuter rail network, with heavy investments in new locomotives and the North Station Draw One Bridge.
Meanwhile, the bus system, which accounts for 40 percent of ridership, gets the least. The plan allocates just over $1.1 billion to buses, including for the implementation of the bus network redesign project to upgrade routes and increase service.
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themissinglink said:
www.bostonglobe.com

MBTA board approves ‘nuts and bolts’ capital budget, leaving billions in critical projects unfunded - The Boston Globe

On Tuesday, the T’s board of directors approved a $9.8 billion, five-year budget for construction projects, while also leaving more than $12.4 billion in needs without funding.
www.bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com
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This article raises a lot of questions that the reporter didn't ask or try to find answers for us. For example:
  • Is the the $12.4 billion in unfunded needs something that needs to happen during the 5 year period for this capital budget?
  • Is the $1.1 billion for buses deficient, or just smaller than what is allocated to other projects? (bus infrastructure is mostly not paid for by the MBTA)
  • For the debt financed portion of the budget, what is the expected revenue stream in dollar terms against which the borrowing is premised?
These are just the 5 seconds after reading questions. I'd expect the reporter to at least go that far, and probably dig even further. After reading the article, I can't at all determine whether the budget is truly bare bones (which in itself is not defined), what kind of financial risk the budget entails, or really anything much at all, other than the indication that one board member is concerned.
 
www.nbcboston.com

The World Cup is coming to Mass. in 2026. Is the MBTA ready?

Tens of thousands of soccer fans will likely take the Commuter Rail to World Cup games in 2026, and the MBTA needs to make sure things run smoothly.
www.nbcboston.com www.nbcboston.com
The agency is joining other host cities in asking Congress for $400 million. He told the MBTA Board of Directors why the new funding was needed: “We do not want to use our regular operating dollars to be able to handle the overtime, the extra trains, the extra service that we need to run.”

In addition, the T needs to make vital upgrades to Foxboro Station, including a new concrete platform and a second, temporary platform that would be installed on the opposite side of the tracks.
[...]
The office of Rep. Sharice Davids, who is leading the funding push, said the request for the $400 million was submitted on May 23. It’s the first step in getting the money approved.
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Delvin4519 said:
GTFS for Spring 2025 is now out:
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MBTA GTFS data is now out for Summer 2025 up to August 23rd, 2025, although PDFs and the list of changes are not available yet.

This summer, Weekday service decreases on the Green Line and increases on the Orange Line. Saturday service will decrease across the MBTA bus system, but the bus network will have a very small Sunday service increase.

Overall, net scheduled trips on the MBTA bus and subway system will decrease this summer, largely driven by reduced weekday Green Line service and reduced Saturday bus service. This does not include the reduced Fairmount Line service every day as part of the Summer 2025 service changes, which would mean systemwide service levels decrease every day of the week across the MBTA this summer.
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(The scheduled revenue bus service hours update for Summer 2025 I won't be able to do until late July)

Here are the service changes for Summer 2025:
* Orange Line weekday frequency increases from every 6 to 7 minutes to every 6 minutes
* Green Line E Branch weekday frequency decreases from every 7 to 8 minutes to every 8 minutes
* Green Line B, C, and D Branches weekday frequency decreases from every 8 minutes to every 8 to 9 minutes
* Reduced service every day on the Fairmount Line and the 55 bus
* Reduced Saturday service on the 8, 9, 11, and 504 buses
* Reduced Sunday service on the 24 bus.
* Reduced Saturday and Sunday service and increased weekday service on the 10, 712, and 713 buses
* Reduced Saturday service and increased weekday service on the 716 bus.
* Reduced weekday service and increased Saturday service on the 106 and 108 buses
* Increased weekday service on the 95, 116, and 430 buses.
* Increased Saturday service on the 90 bus.
* Increased Sunday service on the 34 and 201 buses.
* Increased weekday and Saturday service on the 96 bus.
* Increased Saturday and Sunday service on the 110 bus.

Overall, 18 routes see reduced service and 18 routes see increased service. On the bus network, 14 bus routes see more service and 12 bus routes see reduced service.
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I've also updated the MBTA frequency map again with the following changes:
* Downgraded the Fairmount Line from "Every 30 - 60 minutes" to "Every 2 hours or worse", due to the Sunday trip count dropping below 21 and 11 trips (26 → 9)
* Upgraded the 201 from "Every 1 - 2 hours" to "Every 30 - 60 minutes", due to the Sunday trip count exceeding 21 trips (18 → 28)
* Upgraded the 110 from "Every 15 - 20 minutes" to "Every 12 to 15 minutes", due to the Sunday trip count exceeding 81 trips (80 → 81)

Old maps: Pre-COVID; 2023: Winter, Spring (Slow Zones), Summer, Fall; 2024: Winter, Spring, Summer (News), Fall; 2025: Winter, Spring

I know @Teban54 has a dedicated "transit data analysis" thread, but I'm relunctant to post these updates there; unless all my linked older posts above can also move to the new thread. I prefer these MBTA frequency updates to all be in a single thread.
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TheRatmeister said:
Is it being cut or is the scheduled service being changed to reflect what the actual service already is? If you add up the new frequencies they're damn close to the 28TPH Park St is seeing currently.
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Yeah TransitMatters shows the other lines are over 90% service delivered as compared to scheduled while the green line is at 75% so it’s probably an attempt to be more honest about the service they’re actually providing. Hopefully in practice this actually isn’t a service cut at all even though it theoretically is.
 
TheRatmeister said:
Is it being cut or is the scheduled service being changed to reflect what the actual service already is? If you add up the new frequencies they're damn close to the 28TPH Park St is seeing currently.
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It's offically a service cut as per MBTA. There is now a vehicle shortage on the Green Line now.

Summer 2025 Service Changes | Previous Service Changes | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.
www.mbta.com www.mbta.com

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GreenLineEnthusiast said:
I wonder if the speed limit changes are related to the delay in getting GLTPS up and running and recent accidents stemming from not having it installed.
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If that were true the speed limits would've changed line-wide instead of just on the B and C.


The "vehicle availability" thing is real. 19 Type 8's out-of-service (17 long-term, 2 wrecked), and 18 Type 7's out-of-service (7 short-term, 7 long-term, 4 wrecked).
 
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