MBTA 2025 improvements highlight faster service, safety, and access

The MBTA 2025 improvements campaign closed out the year with systemwide progress that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says will carry into 2026, as outlined in a year-end summary published by Metro Magazine.

The agency pointed to more frequent and expanded service, accessibility upgrades, safety advances, and new technology aimed at improving the rider experience.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Under the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Interim MassDOT Secretary/MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, the MBTA said it accelerated critical investments to rebuild aging infrastructure and modernize system operations. It also highlighted efforts to expand service, strengthen staffing, attract talented professionals, and support communities across the Commonwealth that rely on the MBTA daily. Eng said the MBTA remains committed to continuous improvement and delivering meaningful projects and service as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible as it heads into 2026 and beyond.

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MBTA 2025 system improvements: key highlights

South Coast Rail (SCR) commuter rail expansion

Passenger service on South Coast Rail (SCR) began on March 24, 2025. The MBTA said the over $1 billion project brought passenger service to Taunton, Freetown, New Bedford, Middleboro, and Fall River for the first time in 65 years on the Fall River/New Bedford Commuter Rail Line (Mass.gov).

Red Line and Orange Line speed restoration

Among the MBTA 2025 system improvements, the agency cited resetting higher speeds on rapid transit. Following the work of its Maintenance of Way Department, the MBTA said Red Line Braintree Branch speeds were restored to 50 mph in March 2025 for the first time in 20 years. It also reported that Orange Line trains began traveling at their maximum speed of 55 mph (up from 40 mph) between Oak Grove and Assembly Station in August 2025 after track was restored in that area.

Later subway and bus service

The MBTA said all subway lines and eight frequent bus routes now offer extended service on Fridays and Saturdays. Separately, five of the MBTA’s most frequent bus routes with the highest number of later riders provide extended service every day of the week. Trip end times for these lines and routes are about one hour later than past service end times.

Fare checks and Fare Engagement Representatives

In September, Fare Engagement Representatives began issuing formal warnings and citations to riders who failed to tap at a fare gate or farebox at downtown stations and on board vehicles, a step also covered in an update from Railway Supply. The MBTA said Fare Engagement Representatives expanded to more stations this winter, focusing on those with high ridership and transfer points.

Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS) installation

For safety progress, the MBTA said it awarded the Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS) contract to Piper Networks in June 2025 following the company’s successful completion of “demonstration phase testing.” Crews have been installing GLTPS equipment along Green Line tracks throughout 2025, with Phase 1 on track to be operational in summer 2026.

Workforce growth and staffing

Since the beginning of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the MBTA said it has hired over 1,900 employees and its workforce now stands at over 8,200. The agency said it will continue to upgrade its workforce to deliver even safer, more robust service, citing support from the Administration and the Legislature.

Accessibility milestones under the 2006 settlement

After 19 years of steady improvements to accessibility, the MBTA said it has fulfilled a substantial amount of its obligations under the 2006 Joanne Daniels-Finegold, et al. v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Settlement Agreement. As a result, the MBTA said that in December 2025 the court-appointed independent monitor, Judge Patrick King, concluded his oversight role.

Income-eligible reduced fares and automated verification

Since its launch in September 2024, the income-eligible reduced fare program has made MBTA travel more affordable for over 38,000 riders, the agency said. About 70% of riders have enrolled through an automated verification process that takes under five minutes to complete, thanks to partnerships with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The MBTA said this streamlined approach has enabled rapid program growth and lays the groundwork for similar improvements to other reduced-fare programs in the near future.

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