BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced that they finished critical track work on the Blue Line, lifting 19 safety-related speed restrictions.
The Blue Line is free of all speed restrictions, and there are fewer than 100 speed restrictions across the MBTA system for the first time since March 2023.
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“Thank you to our riders and the communities that we serve for your patience and flexibility as we completed critical work to repair and replace track infrastructure along the entire Blue Line,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng in a press release.
To complete the track work, parts of the Blue Line service were replaced by shuttle buses in April.
“With each diversion, we are fulfilling our commitment to giving our riders the safe and more reliable trip that they deserve,” shared Eng.
With the speed restrictions lifted, Blue Line riders now gain back over three minutes of travel time, explained the MBTA.
“Riders along this corridor rely heavily on the Blue Line as well as the many travelers that visit Massachusetts. While there is still more work to do across the system, they can now experience a shorter and smoother trip,” said Eng.
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The MBTA workforce worked alongside contractor crews on the Blue Line to improve the tracks and accomplish other in-station work like painting and cleaning.
At the peak of the work, over 200 contracted workers joined the MBTA forces to work on the Blue Line.
“I’m proud of our workforce and the contractors that have worked tireless hours making this our first line to be restriction-free after beginning the Track Improvement Program,” said Eng.
The crews accomplished the following track and station improvements: replaced 22,500 feet of rail, over 9,000 feet of overhead catenary wire, and more than 10,000 ties; surfaced and tamped approximately 41,000 feet of track; and repaired stairways at Wonderland, Orient Heights, and Wood Island, among other projects.
Workers also finished other cleaning, replacement, and maintenance work along the Blue Line.
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