THE Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) board of directors has unanimously approved the agency’s 2026-2030 capital investment plan. It includes more than 660 projects to “modernise, expand, and increase the safety and reliability of the MBTA transit network,” with a programmed spend of $US 9.8bn over the next five fiscal years beginning on July 1.

Major investment includes replacing the oldest locomotives in the diesel commuter fleet, which is allocated $US 152.5m, and adding more double-deck coaches to improve reliability and service frequency. MBTA exercised an option in a contract with Hyundai Rotem in August 2024 for 41 double-deck coaches. This is in addition to the 80 already on order, which is allocated $US 286.3m of the total $US 395.9m cost of procurement under the plan. The plan also allocates $US 50m to the project to introduce BEMUs on the Fairmount commuter line.

Other major projects include reliability upgrades to power systems on the metro network, upgrading signalling on the Red and Orange metro lines, and improvements to passenger facilities across the network.

In addition, the plan allocates $US 651.2m towards the ongoing procurement of 252 new metro cars for the Red and Orange lines. MBTA signed contracts with CRRC for a total of 404 metro cars in 2014 and 2016. However, the order has experienced severe delays, with the total cost now budgeted at $US 1.22bn according to MBTA, up from an estimated $US 500m when the contracts were awarded.

The plan also provides $US 549m of the $US 1bn total cost of procuring 102 LRVs for the Green Line and related infrastructure improvements. CAF won the contract to supply the new fleet in September 2022.

Other major allocations include $US 433.9m towards the $US 891.4m cost of introducing an automated fare collection system, $US 179.6m towards the project to extend the Green Line north from Lechmere to Union Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford, which opened in 2022, and $US 679m towards the total $US 1.2bn cost of replacing the a swing bridge used by the Haverhill, Lowell, Newburyport/Rockport, and Fitchburg commuter lines, the single largest infrastructure allocation in the plan.

“The Capital Investment Plan (CIP) is the framework that guides how MBTA makes critical investments in the system, establishing a foundation for stabilising and improving service today as we build a system for future generations of riders,” says MBTA general manager and CEO, Phillip Eng.

“While the CIP needs to be balanced within the available funding at this time, we will always be nimble and ensure that we can deliver projects and meaningful results.”

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