MBTA
Massachusetts government officials joined MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, as well as MBTA workers and riders, at North Station on Dec. 23 to celebrate the completion of the T’s Track Improvement Program and the removal of slow zones for the first time in 20 years.
“Since 2023, the MBTA removed more than 220 speed restrictions and replaced 250,000 feet of rail across the system, saving riders 2.4 million minutes every weekday and generating nearly $1 million [$950,000] in economic benefit every day,” the transit agency said.
The goal of the Track Improvement Program has been to eliminate speed restrictions across the subway system and bring the MBTA’s tracks closer to a State of Good Repair. With the completion of the Green Line work on Dec. 20, the MBTA subway system has undergone key track upgrades, including the replacement of more than 15,400 feet of full-depth track reconstruction, the replacement of approximately 38,000 ties, the installation of nearly 251,500 feet of new rail, and the tamping of nearly 325,000 feet of ballast.
According to MBTA, this achievement was made possible by 23 full-access closures across various lines throughout the year, ranging from weekend closures to several days or even weeks of work. Uninterrupted work was a key factor in the “expeditious” completion of the project, it said.
In the future, speed restrictions may be needed from time to time “if warranted by a changing track condition,” MBTA noted. But as a result of the Track Improvement Program, the agency said it is now “well-positioned to quickly respond to any track issues that may arise” and those issues “will be addressed promptly.”
“The completion of the Track Improvement Program is an outstanding accomplishment toward furthering the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to providing safe, reliable, equitable, and accessible public transportation for all riders,” Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said. “General Manager Eng, our project delivery teams, and the crews on the front lines all deserve tremendous credit for their part in this momentous work. We have appreciated the strategic management by MBTA officials for these projects and have been grateful to riders for their patience while this critical work was under way.”
“This has been a true team effort, and I want to thank everyone—from planning and construction to those maintaining our system and communicating with the public,” Phillip Eng commented. “All MBTA employees played a vital role in moving us one step closer to a state of good repair. Thank you to our workforce for their diligence, and to our riders for their patience throughout the process. I also want to acknowledge Gov. [Maura] Healey and Lt. Gov. [Kim] Driscoll for their leadership and support of our workforce. Our goal is to continue the positive momentum by focusing on accessibility and signal upgrades in 2025, as well as staying on top of preventative maintenance to ensure the T delivers safe, reliable and frequent service to best serve the public today as we build for future generations.”
SkyTrain
TransLink and the City of Richmond on Dec. 20 officially opened the Capstan SkyTrain Station on the Canada Line, which travels between downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver International Airport, and Richmond.
The C$62 million project was cost-shared by TransLink and the City of Richmond, which contributed C$32.2 million from developers. This is only the second time TransLink has constructed an additional SkyTrain station to serve an existing line; Lake City Way Station opened in 2003 after the Millennium Line was already in service.
Among the new Capstan Station’s amenities:
- Larger platform waiting area.
- Expanded street-level concourse.
- Dual sets of escalators.
- First all-digital station with enhanced display screens.
- Future commercial retail space.
Built in the area of No. 3 Road and Capstan Way, it is located between the existing Aberdeen and Bridgeport stations on the Canada Line. On the average weekday, there are more than 37,000 customers riding the Canada Line between the two existing stations. Capstan Station serves the Capstan Village area, which is projected to have up to 16,000 residents once nearby developments are completed. Station construction commenced in summer 2021.
“The new station is the result of an innovative agreement between TransLink and the City of Richmond, established through a precedent-setting funding model involving the City of Richmond and Capstan Village developers—including Concord Pacific, Polygon Homes, Pinnacle International, and Yuanheng,” TransLink and the City said. “Over half of the construction costs for Capstan Station came from developer contributions. TransLink worked closely with the City of Richmond on station design, with the community in mind.”
The station features distinctive interior art from local artist Howie Tsui that depicts aquatic life in the Fraser River estuary. The large mosaic spans more than 3,600 square feet and was created using more than 3,500 custom-made glazed glass and metallic tiles.
“This brand-new station, located in the heart of a bustling community, will enable current and future residents of Capstan Village to make transit their number one transportation choice,” TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said. “This entire project underscores how fast, frequent, and accessible transit connects our region and strengthens our cities.”
