The existing mass transit system provides the framework around which future growth and transit services can be organized.  The region needs to make investments that will increase the capacity of the existing system, improve its operations, and expand the network to serve more of the region.  These capital investments will create opportunities for more frequent service, more “reverse commute” service from the Inner Core to suburban stations, fewer transfers, and direct access to the system for more people and locations.  

Currently, the MBTA’s core system provides robust service, but is limited in many ways.  The lack of any circumferential service in the Inner Core requires all transfers to occur at a limited number of downtown stations, resulting in less-convenient trips and overloading those stations.  The Blue and Silver Lines lack key connections, forcing riders to make multiple connections.  Limited station capacity at North and South Stations and limited track capacity leading to those stations reduces the potential for reverse commute service, express service, or more frequent service.  Recent improvements have been made to improve operations of the core system, including new 6-car trains and stations for the Blue Line, and low-floor Green Line vehicles.  

Improvements to the core system will improve the existing network as the framework for regional growth and will ensure that the system has the capacity to serve significant new growth in the Inner Core.  Examples of such improvements include

• Extension of the Green Line to Medford
• Extension of the Blue Line to Lynn
• Urban Ring
• Silver Line Phase III (connection of Washington Street and Seaport lines)

The region should also take steps to enhance the commuter rail system, which links the Inner Core with more suburban areas.  Example of such improvements include:

• Expansion of commuter rail capacity at South Station
• North-South rail link to fully integrate services which now terminate at North and South station
• Electrification of the commuter rail system

Furthermore, the region must expand and improve the suburban transit system, both rail and bus.  Potential transit locations in suburban areas often lack the focused planning and implementation resources available in the urban core.  Consequently, suburban areas that now have population and employment densities to merit consideration for transit delivery do not have the means available to plan or provide it.  Other critical suburban transportation issues, such as at-grade crossings which can tie up traffic in suburban downtowns and along secondary roadways, must also be tackled.

Some of these projects are closer to fruition than others.  It is likely that all of them will be expensive.  They cannot be accomplished without additional revenues from the Commonwealth, and without federal participation.  (See Sub-strategy C in this chapter.)  Nevertheless, they are critical projects – critical to the region’s economic competitiveness, and critical to residents’ quality of life.  State agencies, the MPO, municipalities, neighborhood stakeholders, and institutional advocates must all collaborate to advance these projects and find ways to implement them cost-effectively.  

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