Mastodawn

Boston, Mass, everyone - some very exciting train developments for New England’s largest city 🚆

Not only is the T working to electrify a “commuter” train and dramatically increase service frequency thru a mostly Black part of town here (due 2028), city councilors are pushing for an Orange Line extension to run along Blue Hill Ave.

https://www.universalhub.com/2026/councilors-want-orange-line-extended-down-blue-hill-avenue

https://www.dotnews.com/2026/06/18/blue-hill-bus-lane-opponents-lobby-trump-officials-to-withdraw-80m-in-funding-for-blue-hill-ave-project/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/23/metro/blue-hill-ave-orange-line-train/

Link to “blue hill” search on BSB:

https://www.baystatebanner.com/?s=blue+hill

#transportation #MA

Councilors want Orange Line extended down Blue Hill Avenue

City Councilors Miniard Culpepper (Roxbury) and Brian Worrell (Dorchester) say the MBTA should build an Orange Line extension from Ruggles to Mattapan Square through a new tunnel under Warren Street and Blue Hill Avenue. Read more.

Universal Hub

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DemonHusky 1d ago

@tsyum the orange line extension idea isn't exciting, it's a poison pill to stop making bus improvements right now on the hope to extend the orange line in 20 years

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DemonHusky 1d ago

@tsyum the battery trains are good, but if the T put up some wires, the trains would be faster and have more capacity and be cheaper to run. For half the price, we could have better trains than what they are planning to do. The T's hatred of catenary is really hurting the region

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ts 🚇

@DemonHusky thanks for sharing. I had the impression that Eng is a good leader for transit in Massachusetts. Helpful to hear from someone else with knowledge of the technical aspects

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DemonHusky 1d ago

@tsyum I think this plan predates Eng. The aversion to catenary certainly does. Overall I think Eng is doing a good job, but that doesn't mean we can't be doing better.

Somewhere I saw some analysis/comments suggesting that this battery train plan is going to be more expensive, but it's expenses are able to go into different budgets better to actually happen. Which, I definitely think we should make good improvements over not, so maybe it's worth the cost?