All articles tagged with #mbta
An MBTA Orange Line shuttle bound for North Station mistakenly drove to Stoneham, about 10 miles away, on the first day of an 11-day shutdown between Oak Grove and Back Bay. Passengers were later brought to North Station, the driver was removed from service, MBTA apologized, and free shuttles continue to operate during the outage.
An MBTA Orange Line shuttle mistakenly sent passengers to Stoneham on the North Shore instead of North Station during an 11-day suspension; the driver was removed from the service, the MBTA apologized, riders vented on social media, and it’s unclear whether they were eventually delivered to North Station.
The MBTA will pay about $495,000 to Gabrielle Mondestin, the agency's chief communications officer, to settle a 2024 incident in which General Manager Phil Eng pulled Mondestin's hair. Eng apologized but the agreement contains no admission of wrongdoing. Mondestin will resign on Sept. 18, and the payout covers a one-time wage payment, damages, and attorneys’ fees.
From Aug 8–16, the MBTA will suspend service on the central Green Line, closing segments on the B (Government Center to Babcock Street), C (Government Center to Cleveland Circle), D (North Station to Kenmore), and E (Heath Street to North Station) branches for signal upgrades and C Branch accessibility improvements. Free shuttle buses will run on affected segments (Babcock Street–Back Bay; Cleveland Circle–Back Bay; Kenmore–Back Bay), and Route 39 will replace the E Branch between Heath Street and Back Bay with extra free buses; riders should expect longer trips.
August will bring a nine-day Green Line shutdown (Aug. 8–16) through downtown Boston and parts of the C and E branches, plus an 11-day suspension of half the Orange Line, as the MBTA advances track and signal upgrades; officials say the closures are a necessary, efficiency-driven move to tackle aging infrastructure and will be followed by fewer long outages as work continues.
Gov. Healey extends MBTA commuter rail 50% off monthly passes through November and launches three new fare pilots across buses, subways, ferries and rail, including unlimited two-hour transfers starting Sept. 1, cheaper express buses at $1.70, and free fares for Massachusetts residents 75+ who don’t drive; the $1 Weekend Companion Fare is also extended. Separately, Mass Lottery Online goes live with projected $70M net revenue in year one (rising in later years) earmarked for child care.
A long MBTA Red Line shutdown replaces trains with slow shuttle buses for about a week and a half, turning a typical 20-minute ride into roughly two hours into Boston, with Alewife Station passengers bearing the brunt.
MBTA announces summer promotions: free commuter rail service on Fridays (June–August), most monthly passes at half price during those months, and added weekend-free travel for monthly passholders plus $1 companion rides on most trips. Exclusions apply to special event trains serving Foxboro World Cup matches and the CapeFlyer. Officials aim to ease peak-season travel ahead of major events like World Cup games and celebrations of America’s 250th birthday.
A historic blizzard pounds Massachusetts with heavy snow and high winds, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands, triggering a southeastern travel ban, canceling classes, and causing major transit and air-travel disruptions as crews race to restore outages and clear roads.
Massachusetts woke to fresh powder from a weekend blizzard, with well over a foot of snow in many areas and some towns approaching 2 feet as the storm continues into Monday. Logan Airport faced major disruption with hundreds of flights canceled; authorities reported at least one storm-related death in Norwood, while power outages declined as the day progressed. Officials urged residents to stay off the roads, schools and many businesses closed, warming shelters opened, and the MBTA kept trains running overnight to keep tracks clear amid frigid temperatures and wind chills well below freezing.
Several MBTA Commuter Rail trains were canceled due to issues with catenary wires and signals, affecting multiple lines including Worcester, Needham, and Haverhill, with updates ongoing as more information becomes available.
Brian Kane, head of the MBTA's oversight board, compares the transit agency to the Red Sox, highlighting a complex relationship of dependence, disappointment, and loyalty among Boston residents.
The MBTA reports a significant recovery in ridership, nearing pre-pandemic levels, with ongoing infrastructure repairs and safety improvements, and is preparing for major events in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup, while updating service policies to enhance accessibility and staffing.
Phillip Eng, the MBTA's general manager, has significantly improved Boston's transit system over the past year, increasing reliability, ridership, and passenger satisfaction through extensive repairs and upgrades, earning him high praise from commuters and online communities.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will begin rolling out a new contactless fare collection system this summer after years of delays and budget increases. The Automated Fare Collection 2.0 system will allow payments via credit card or mobile wallets on bus and subway lines, with further expansions planned for 2025 and 2026. The project, initially estimated at $753 million, has seen costs rise to $926 million.