MBTA resumes winter resiliency efforts

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker watches trackwork being performed as part of MBTA’s winter resiliency efforts.
Office of Governor Charlie Baker

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) had extra help kicking off its second phase of winter resiliency work during the weekend of Sept. 10-11.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack visited the MBTA’s Caddigan Yard near the Braintree MBTA stop to view work commencing on the Red Line winter resiliency efforts.

“The MBTA continues to improve its infrastructure and strengthen its ability to perform for riders during severe weather by investing in the core system,” said Gov. Baker. “This resiliency work and the Fiscal and Management Control Board’s (FMCB) efforts to deliver meaningful reforms, transparency and cost-effectiveness, will ultimately mean a more accountable and reliable transit system for the commonwealth’s commuters and taxpayers.”

The $18.5 million resiliency contract was awarded in July by the FMCB to Barletta Heavy Division, Inc., and will implement upgrades along 9.9 miles of the Red Line’s Braintree and Ashmont Lines, including the replacement of all third rail and heating systems, track and tie renewals, signals, track structure and conduit installations.

“The MBTA’s goals continue to be the safety of our passengers and the ability to provide reliable service to those customers, especially during severe weather,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “The next phase of winter resiliency work reflects the type of investments we are making, and that need to be made, in order to improve the system in the short and long term.”

The $83 million MBTA Winter Resiliency Plan announced by the Baker-Polito Administration in 2015 focused on infrastructure, equipment and operations improvements on the Red Line and Orange Line to more effectively mitigate the frequency, length and magnitude of system disruptions to public transit during severe weather. The first phase, implemented last year, included third rail and rail heater improvements along 13.6 miles of the Red Line from the Andrew Station portal to Quincy Adams, while the second phase, which began this summer and will continue through December completes the improvements along the entire length of the Red Line.

“This work is key to keeping the system operating no matter what challenges Mother Nature throws at us,” said MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve. “In addition, investments have already been made to secure specialized snow removal equipment to increase our snow removal capacity and ensure passenger vehicles operate on schedule.”

More dates will be announced for weekend dates from October through November.

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