Suburban transit isn’t just about getting people to work – it’s about supporting local economies and making Greater Boston more livable. But right now, it is treated as an afterthought.
A big challenge looms for the MBTA as it tries to move its commuter rail lines into the 21st century: Picking who will operate the sprawling system for the public transit agency, how will they do it, and for how long.
MBTA officials will soon have to decide how to structure the contract with the outside firm that will convert its suburban train system to “regional rail,” a step that has ramifications for the project’s cost.
Trains powered by electricity rather than diesel fuel are not scheduled to begin rolling on the Fairmount Line for years, but public officials are so excited about the now-concrete plans for more frequent service with less pollution that they gathered in the hot sun Tuesday morning to celebrate an achievement that likely won’t be attained until 2028.
Electrification of the MBTA’s commuter rail lines has been a long-held dream for developers, riders and transit advocates, alike. And Boston residents could be first in line for a preview of what it could look like.
The dream of frequent, electrified suburban trains in Greater Boston has long seemed perennially on the horizon. Could this time be different? Indications are, yes. And housing developers should start keeping an eye on the project.
The state’s new plan to reduce its carbon emissions is missing two key and common-sense items: commuter rail electrification and a regional approach to flooding from storms and extreme heat.
