THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 12, 2024 Page 9 MBTA | FROM PAGE 8 2023, the MBTA launched its Bus Priority Vision and Toolkit. Through partnerships with communities and municipalities, bus priority allows the MBTA to make bus transit faster and more effi cient through the creation of dedicated bus lanes, the implementation of transit signal priority, and the use of queue jumps. The Bus Priority Vision and Toolkit are complementary resources that are designed to support the expansion of bus priority investments throughout the region over the next fi veto-seven years. They provide guidance to municipal, state, and transit staff on planning and implementing bus priority treatments to encourage more regional transit use. Commuter Rail Ridership Reached New Post-Pandemic Peak and Exceeded 90% of Pre-COVID Levels: Commuter Rail ridership reached a new post-pandemic peak in October 2023. For four weeks, the average weekly ridership of the Commuter Rail systemwide exceeded 90% of preCOVID levels. While ridership across the Commuter Rail network was high in October, three lines in particular saw significant jumps compared to their September averages: the Newburyport/Rockport, Fairmount, and Franklin lines. Newburyport/Rockport Line Achieved the Highest Weekend Ridership and the Best October On-time Performance Ever: In October 2023, the Newburyport/Rockport Line saw the best overall October on-time performance and highest levels of weekend ridership ever during the Haunted Happenings events in Salem. Extra weekend Commuter Rail service to and from Salem was added as part of the City of Salem’s eff orts to encourage people to take public transportation to Haunted Happenings. Dedicated Bus Lanes: More than eight miles of bus priority lanes were added to the MBTA service area in 2023. The MBTA led efforts to expand and make permanent quickbuild lanes on Broadway in Revere. In a joint collaboration with the City of Boston, quickbuild lanes were made permanent on Huntington Avenue and St. James Avenue, and the inbound lane on Washington Street in Roslindale was extended. The MBTA is also grateful for their municipal partners, Partnering with the City of Boston and the City of Somerville, the MBTA was able to see the Summer Street bus/truck lane pilot and bus lane along East Broadway under McGrath come to fruition. Increase Environmental Sustainability: The MBTA is committed to embracing environmentally sustainable practices. Public transit accounts for less than 1 % of statewide transportation emissions, but despite the relatively small share of transportation emissions, the MBTA is taking proactive steps to mitigate environmental impact: New Climate and Resiliency Policy and Planning Offi ce: In August 2023, the MBTA released agency-wide goals, including reducing environmental impacts and increasing the transit system’s resilience. In support of this goal, in September 2023, the Authority announced the establishment of a new Climate and Resiliency Policy and Planning team as part of the Policy and Strategic Planning Division that will be tasked with decreasing the agency’s and the state’s environmental footprint and increasing the resilience of the MBTA system. Secured Major Battery Electric Bus Contract: The MBTA secured a $119 million contract to New Flyer of America Inc. for the production and delivery of 80 new, low-fl oor, 40-foot battery electric buses (BEBs). Supporting the Commonwealth’s Net Zero emissions targets, the BEBs purchased under this procurement will reduce transportation emissions, which will result in better air quality within MBTA communities. The procurement, which is part of the Authority’s fleet replacement plan, positions the MBTA to meet the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Law mandate, which requires the T to purchase zero-emission buses only after 2029 and fully electrify its fl eet by 2040. Release of RFQ for 3-5 Year $120 Million Renewable Energy Contract: In July 2023, the MBTA Board of Directors approved the release of a Request for Qualifi cations (RFQ) for an up-to-$120 million wholesale renewable electricity supply contract, upgrading the T’s commitment to renewable energy and continuing its leadership in clean transportation. The MBTA also further supported the Commonwealth’s climate change goals and meeting Clean Energy Standard requirements by recommending that 30% of its power be supplied by Massachusetts solar and wind Renewable Energy Certifi cates (RECs). ments: Accessibility ImproveNew and Replacement Elevators: In 2023, a new redundant elevator serving the inbound platform at Kendall/ MIT was constructed. Additionally, a redundant elevator at State Street Station that connects the Oak Grovebound Orange Line platform to the corridor between the Orange and Blue Lines and an elevator at Quincy Adams were replaced and are now back in service. All four elevators have now been replaced at Quincy Adams, and MBTA | SEE PAGE 13
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