Baker Proposes More Evening, Weekend MBTA Closures To Accelerate T Rebuilding

A man steps toward a stopped subway train as a man at the front of the train looks back at passengers on the platform. — FILE — An MBTA Red Line driver looks out the window as passengers board the train at the Kendall Square outbound platform on March 23, 2012.

Bob Seay was the transportation reporter for GBH News.

June 25, 2019

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that his administration will explore scheduling more aggressive evening and weekend closures to expedite MBTA infrastructure improvements.

In response to calls that more be done to fix the T in the wake of a serious Red Line derailment two weeks ago, Baker has announced a plan to accelerate the pace of spending on capital projects intended to improve service and reliability.

Baker has pledged to spend $8 billion in the next five years on rebuilding the troubled transit system, and said he has realized the problem isn't having enough money, but enough time to get the work done. He said he realizes that more evening and weekend closures will disrupt service for passengers, but more time is needed to do the work.

The governor and other administration officials unveiled their plans at the Wellington Station Garage in Medford.

Officials also plan to increase the frequency of proactive inspections and preventive maintenance to find and fix potential issues before they impact service.

Baker said he will also ask the legislature to increase procurement flexibility so contracts can be negotiated, signed and implemented more quickly.

Baker said he would use $50 million in surplus funds for additional MBTA employees, third party contractors and engineering consultants.

Bob Seay was the transportation reporter for GBH News.