Don’t Wait for a Megaproject to Start Building Regional Rail in Mass.
We’ve identified 10 no-regrets investments the MBTA should make over five years, helping leverage commuter rail to lower housing costs.
MBTA Ordered to Release Details of New Commuter Rail Station
The state Supervisor of Public Records ordered the MBTA to release documents on plans for a new commuter rail station on the Weston-Waltham line tied to a proposed housing development.
South Station Commuter Rail Fare Gates Out of Service
A little more than a month after they first went into use, the fare gates at South Station are now covered with tarps and shrink wrap.
DeMaria Leaves Major Developments in Hands of Everett’s New Mayor
“Development” is a promising word in Gateway Cities, and Everett’s new mayor just inherited a lot of it in his first few weeks in office.
Everett Inks Deal to Fund Commuter Rail Station
Everett’s new mayor is standing behind a deal his predecessor clinched just hours before leaving office, letting a pair of hotels and new transit infrastructure move forward.
Commuter Rail Fare Gates Go Live at South Station
Last week, commuter rail passengers started to have to tap or scan their train tickets to enter the track area at South Station, as the MBTA began a major change in fare collection operations.
Housing Production Depends on Transforming the MBTA’s Suburban Transit
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.
The Biggest Call the T Will Make in the Next Five Years
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.
Report Argues More Density Needed Across MBTA Network
Despite having one of North America’s most extensive commuter rail and subway networks, Greater Boston has some of the least-dense areas around transit stations, according to a new report.
Before T Can Electrify Commuter Rail, a Contract Decision Looms
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.
MBTA Estimates 25 Percent of South-Side Commuter Rail Fares Not Being Collected
MBTA officials say fare collection efforts are being stepped up on the commuter rail system, but the loss of revenue remains a problem, with a quarter of fares not being collected on trains operating out of South Station.
Promise Of Electric Trains Triggers Early Celebration
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.
Transforming Boston’s Commuter Rail Creates a Blueprint for Growth
The T recently hit several milestones in turning its commuter rail network into a tool to unlock new development sites. But the real estate community should keep an eye out for three
MBTA Could Add More, Battery-Powered Trains to Boston Commuter Line
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.
Pay Attention to Train Electrification
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.
Lynn Commuter Rail Station Opens Early
Lynn has its train back, after over a year without following the MBTA’s closure of its downtown commuter rail station in October 2022 due to growing safety concerns.
Plans for Newton Train Stations Up the Ante in Zoning Debate
Newton city councilors are facing pressure to scale back plans to rezone the community’s 13 commercial nodes for more multifamily development to comply with the state’s MBTA Communities law, but one of the mooted suggestions could come at a cost: plans to revamp its commuter rail stations.
Additional Items Can Boost Massachusetts’s Climate Plan
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.
MBTA Bulks Up Commuter Rail Service Amid Commute Concerns
Several MBTA commuter rail lines are getting more rush-hour service as data mounts that commute problems are a leading cause of Boston-area workers reluctance to return to the office full-time.
Cape Lawmakers Make Pitch for Commuter Rail Service
Around 50 percent of the Cape and Islands’ workers travel over the bridges to come to work, Rep. Dylan Fernandes said: “Anything we can do to have fewer cars on the Cape gives residents more transportation options to choose from.”
