BOSTON — A 13-day suspension of service for maintenance on a portion of the Orange Line led to the lifting of 20 speed restrictions, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced.
The ongoing, year-long Track Improvement Program has now reduced the amount of the MBTA rail transit system under speed restrictions to 1.8 miles, or 1%, according to the agency’s Speed Restriction Dashboard. At the beginning of 2024, it was 22.1 miles, or 16% of the system.
“We are committed to giving the public what they expect and deserve: safe, reliable, and improved service,” MBTA CEO Phillip Eng said in a press release. “This Orange Line diversion allowed us to perform long-deferred infrastructure work, eliminating all the speed restrictions to provide a smoother ride with shorter travel time, giving people precious time back in their lives. … Soon, the Orange Line will be completely free of slow zones. With only 1% of our system remaining with restrictions, we are on our way to fulfilling our promise to the public we serve, eliminating all the speed restrictions systemwide.”
The latest maintenance project, between Forest Hills and Back Bay, with a weekend project between Forest Hills and North Station, included replacing more than 27,500 feet of rail, more than 336 ties, and resurfacing approximately 1,900 feet of track, as well as the replacement of six switch machines at crossovers and extensive station work.
Additional Orange Line work is slated for Oct. 26-Nov. 1. Details are available here.
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