Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 5, 2024 MBTA Bids Farewell to 2023 and Welcomes the New Year with Momentum: Infrastructure Investments, Workforce Growth, and with Improvements in Commuter Rail Ridership T Expresses Gratitude for Riders’ Patience and Resilience; Recognizes Frontline Workforce Responsible for Day-to-Day Operations B OSTON – Refl ecting on 2023, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA / Authority) underscored tangible progress in revitalizing the system’s assets and workforce to deliver more reliable service. Under the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s, Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt’s, and General Manager Phillip Eng’s leadership, the MBTA made critical investments to upgrade aging infrastructure, attract talent, and endeavor to regain rider trust – fueling momentum in the Authority’s revitalization. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration has allowed me the opportunity of a lifetime to lead this great organization as we rebuild and reimagine MBTA service both now and for the future. Our focus remains on improving reliability, enhancing service quality, and, above all else, ensuring safety. I’m proud of our dedicated workforce and the momentum we’re gaining as we work to foster a safety-focused culture committed to public service, strengthen operations, and restore rider trust,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “I see the pride on my colleagues’ faces, evidenced as we turn the corner. I’m honored to be on this journey alongside them. As the important work continues in the year ahead, we move into 2024 with renewed determination to deliver the responsive, transparent, and accountable service that T riders deserve.” While the MBTA continues to build momentum thanks to infrastructure upgrades and new leadership focused squarely on the rider experience, it also recognizes the daily challenges for many who rely on public transportation across Massachusetts when any train or bus fails to meet expectations. The Authority remains deeply grateful for the patience and resilience demonstrated by riders and also recognizes the commitment and dedication of its frontline workers who keep the system running daily despite trying conditions. “They ride the buses. They take the trains. They off er us invaluable feedback. We know people rely on safe and reliable transportation, and that is why we are committed to delivering them a system that we can all be proud of,” concluded Eng. As the MBTA revisits the past year’s efforts and looks ahead, several critical achievements in infrastructure upgrades, workforce rebuilding, service improvements, and more illustrate this momentum, which has been included below the fold in more detail: Key 2023 Highlights • Accelerating infrastructure repairs to eliminate speed restrictions across the subway system, repair tracks and signals, and continue significant station upgrades; • Reorganized the entire leadership team, including the appointment of transit and transportation industry veterans to leadership roles; • Record hiring, which exceeded hiring goals to rebuild workforce capacity and capabilities; • Improving transparency with riders and the public; • 80% of the unionized workforce rapidly ratifi ed renegotiated contracts that addressed long-unresolved labor concerns; • Reopened temporary Lynn Station and restored Commuter Rail train service nine months earlier than initially scheduled; reopened Ashland Station in December to minimize rider impact; • Launched new Lynn and Winthrop ferry services; • Enhanced accessibility via upgraded stations; • Piloted a successful permanent weekday Commuter Rail service between Boston’s South Station and Foxboro Station, paving the way for a permanent service; and • Established a new Climate and Resiliency Policy and Planning team as part of the Policy and Strategic Planning Division, advancing the MBTA’s environmental commitments. Improving and Maintaining MBTA Safety and Infrastructure: Track Improvement Program: The MBTA launched its Track Improvement Program in November 2023, a major, bold initiative to eliminate all existing speed restrictions as of November 2023 and bring tracks closer to a state of good repair by the end of 2024. The MBTA’s new program STICKER PROGRAM | FROM PAGE 3 tion can be found at epay. cityhallsystems.com. For questions regarding the program or the online application, please contact 311 at 617-394-2270 or the Parking Clerk’s Office at 617-394-2295 or 617-394-2275. If you have questions regarding your sticker order status, please contact City Hall Systems at 508-381-5455. When applying online for the resident sticker, you might receive an email that the system does not recognize the address. In this case, the Collector’s Offi ce will add the address into the system and then respond to the email, notifying you that the address has been added. At this point, you may re-apply for the sticker online. To apply or for more information, please visit: cityofeverett.com/city-hall/ departments/parking/residential-parking-stickers. to fi x the tracks will involve a wide range of work, including spot repairs, tie replacements, rail replacement, and ballast replacement. The MBTA will also be expanding its engineering teams and engaging specialized rail contractors to execute the work effi - ciently. Hingham Ferry Dock Modernization and Resiliency Improvements: In February 2023, the MBTA was awarded $6.6 million in funding by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for modernization, safety, and accessibility improvements to the Hingham Ferry dock, which provides a key service link between local communities and the Boston Harbor while helping to reduce traffi c between the South Shore and Boston. The funding comes as part of the FTA’s FY 2022 Passenger Ferry Grant Program, which aims to enhance and revitalize public ferry systems in the nation’s urbanized areas. The FTA awarded more than $380 million in competitive funding to ferry projects through a trio of discretionary grant programs, and the MBTA received the Passenger Ferry Grant Program’s largest award in the nation. Major Contract Award for Track and Signal Upgrades at South Station: In March 2023, the MBTA Board of Directors awarded a construction contract of over $98 million to upgrade the tracks, switches, and signals at South Station, which will result in improvements to the reliability and resiliency of Commuter Rail and Amtrak train service into and out of the station. The project will provide better operational reliability to the MBTA’s nine Commuter Rail lines that terminate at South Station and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and Lake Shore Limited services while improving safety, resiliency, and security. Purchase of Widett Circle to Improve Critical Rail Efficiency: The MBTA completed the purchase of Widett Circle in April 2023, a key component in a larger strategy to improve Commuter Rail service and to better meet the transportation needs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Located one mile from South Station and adjacent to existing MBTA Commuter Rail facilities, the area will be used by the MBTA to imMBTA | SEE PAGE 9
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