Dealt with more speed limits than expected in 5 day project
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on Tuesday (Nov. 21) completed “significant track work” on the Transit Red Line, increasing the speed limits on four 10 mph speed limits and five mph speed limits between JFK/UMass and Park Street. It has been announced that the 25 mile limit has been lifted. station.
On the nights of Nov. 14-16 and throughout the day Nov. 18-19, rail service will be replaced with shuttle buses and MBTA crews will conduct work that includes replacing more than 2,000 feet of rail and 115 sleepers. I was able to complete it. At the same time, work was carried out at three locations within the station, including bench repairs, stairway and platform improvements, and new signage or cleaning.
MBTA CEO Philip Eng said the completed construction has lifted three more speed limits than originally planned.
“Part of this success is the collaborative coordination between contract work and our growing in-house maintenance staff,” Eng said. press release. “We know there are many challenges ahead, but this is an important step in the MBTA’s new commitment to safely improve our tracks and infrastructure and provide the public with faster, more reliable rides. It reaffirms the way we do business.”
With the completed work, the Red Line remains with 57 restrictions covering 9.2 miles, or 19% of the route. This is the first time that number has fallen below 10 mph since the MBTA launched system-wide slow zones.
This work was planned in advance of the MBTA’s recently announced plan to eliminate all speed limits on its rail transit network by the end of 2024. [see “MBTA announces plan …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 10, 2023] The first work as part of that program is scheduled to begin on the Green Line on November 27th.