System-Wide Accessibility Improvements

Groups who helped us develop our priorities include:

• (Former) Access Advisory Committee to the T (AACT)
• Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL)
• Daniels-Finegold vs. MBTA Plaintiffs
• Disability Policy Consortium (DPC)
• Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
• Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)
• Mass Senior Action Council (MSAC)
• Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT)
• Riders’ Transportation Access Group (R-TAG)
• Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA)
• WalkBoston

In 2017–2018, we collected data on all bus stops to identify accessibility barriers, such as unusable curb ramps and narrow or uneven sidewalks.

84% of stops had at least 1 barrier somewhere within the stop or within the path to the nearest crosswalk. For example:

• 20% have less than 4-foot-wide sidewalk for the length of a bus stop
• 6% have a sidewalk narrower than 36 inches
• 18% have a landing pad too narrow for a bus ramp to easily deploy
• 14% are located near a crossing with a missing curb ramp

To identify priorities for each stop, we grouped them into 4 categories:

• Critical (3%): These stops were fundamentally inaccessible, with no curb ramp or way to or from the stop. Customers using wheeled mobility would have no choice but to board or exit from the street.
• High priority (9%): These stops had 2 or more significant access barriers (anywhere within or between the stop and the nearest crossing).
• Medium priority (75%): These stops had 1 significant access barrier.
• Low priority (13%): These stops had negligible or no barriers.

Please note that if any obstacles are present at a bus stop, our operators are trained to stop the bus at a nearby accessible location.

We’ve identified just over 300 “critical” stops—225+ that need complete reconstruction to become accessible, and 75 that will be permanently closed due to low ridership.

• Of the critical stops being reconstructed, over 70 stops are complete, and an additional 100 will be constructed throughout 2020.
• Of the 75 stops slated for closure, all will be closed in Fall 2020.

We will also be advancing the design and construction of access improvements to “high priority” stops:

• Construction on 150 of these stops will begin in 2020.
• Additional stops will undergo ongoing review as other infrastructure upgrades move forward—accessibility improvements are just one of the many components of the Better Bus Project.

It’s important to note that the vast majority of MBTA bus stops are located on municipal or privately owned sidewalks. That’s why our plan also includes sharing the data we’ve collected with cities and towns, so they can help remove remaining access barriers from stops across the network. 

The Green Line is the oldest branch of the MBTA and one of the most challenging parts of the system to make fully accessible. Some street-level stations are along major roadways, and renovating platforms for accessibility at these locations will require significant collaboration with the City of Boston and other stakeholders.
 
Minor to moderate barriers also exist, such as heavy station doors and broken sidewalks.

We’re excited to begin planning renovations for true level boarding (raising platforms to be level with the train car), a key component of building a Green Line that’s 100% accessible.

Key parts of our plan include:

• Make high-priority stations accessible, including Symphony and Hynes
• Work with the City of Boston and other stakeholders to identify viable long-term access solutions for street-level stops that are adjacent to roadways, including stop relocations and consolidations
• Make accessibility improvements on the D Line, where it is feasible to widen and raise the platforms
• Resolve minor to moderate barriers throughout the system

Learn more about the Green Line transformation

• Green Line B Station Consolidation – Consolidation of 4 currently inaccessible stations (Babcock St, Pleasant St, Saint Paul St and BU West) into 2 fully accessible stations
• Newton Highlands Station – New platforms, paths, and track and signals
• Brookline Hills Station – New platforms as part of the Brookline High School Expansion Project
• Hynes Convention Center – Complete reconstruction with new platforms, elevators, and a new entrance at Boylston Street
• Symphony Station – Retrofit to include 4 new elevators
• Beaconsfield, Waban, Eliot, and Chestnut Hill – Station renovations that will result in a fully accessible D Branch

All of our Orange Line stations are accessible. However, minor to moderate accessibility barriers still exist, such as heavy station doors and broken sidewalks.

• Construct new, secondary elevators at key locations and modernize select existing elevators
• Resolve minor-moderate barriers throughout the system

• Forest Hills Station – Large-scale infrastructure improvements to include new elevators, entrances, and lobby upgrades
• Ruggles Station – New accessible elevators and a longer platform to accommodate Commuter Rail trains
• Oak Grove Station – 3 new elevators, 1 elevator replacement, and other accessibility and wayfinding improvements
• Downtown Crossing – 2 new elevators and 1 replacement elevator connecting the street level areas with Orange and Red Line platforms

Since Wollaston Station reopened in August 2019, all of our Red Line stations are accessible. However, there are still some minor accessibility barriers throughout the system, such as heavy doors and broken sidewalks.

• Construct new, secondary elevators at key locations and modernize select existing elevators
• Resolve minor-moderate barriers throughout the system

Downtown Crossing will get 2 new elevators and 1 replacement elevator connecting the street level areas with Orange and Red Line platforms.

Bowdoin Station is the only inaccessible station on the Blue Line. All of our other Blue Line stations are accessible. However, minor to moderate accessibility barriers still exist, such as heavy station doors and broken sidewalks.

• Construct new, secondary elevators at key locations and modernize select existing elevators
• Resolve minor-moderate barriers throughout the system

Valley Road is the only inaccessible station on the Mattapan Line. All of our other Mattapan Line stations are accessible.

Commuter Rail trains are accessed via full-high and mini-high platforms that allow for level boarding. Just over 30 stations do not have raised platforms and are inaccessible.

The plan:

• Renovate highest priority stations to provide level boarding and full accessibility
• Repair mini-high platforms as needed and install all missing tactile warnings system-wide
• Make accessibility improvements as part of larger-scale Commuter Rail infrastructure changes, such as the Franklin Line Double Track project

• Mansfield Station – New platforms and accessible parking
• Ruggles Station – New and additional elevators and a longer platform to accommodate Commuter Rail trains
• Chelsea Commuter Rail Station – Full reconstruction with high-level platforms
• Natick Center Station – Full reconstruction with high-level platforms with elevator and ramp access
• Winchester Center Station – Full reconstruction with new elevators, access ramps, and high-level platforms
• Auburndale, West Newton, and Newtonville stations – Full reconstruction with high-level platforms, elevators, and ramps
• South Attleboro – Full reconstruction with high-level platforms, elevators, and ramps

• Downtown Crossing: Put into service June 14, 2019
• Andrew (857, 858, and 859): Put into service October 18, 2019
• Forest Hills: Put into service November 5, 2019
• Harvard (821): Put into service October 31, 2019
• Central (861): Put into service April 2, 2020
• Alewife (813, 814, and 815): Put into service by September 2020.
• Ruggles Phase 1: Three elevators—728 (lower busway), 851 (Forsyth Street) and 850 (Orange Line)—are complete. Two elevators—848 (lower busway) and 849 (commuter rail)—are out of service and will be completed late 2021.
• Quincy Adams (805, 806, and 807): Elevator 806 put into service December 4, 2020. Elevators 805 and 807 will be completed by spring 2022.

• Downtown Crossing Phase 2: Two new units
• Park Street: One new unit
• Forest Hills Phase 2: One new unit and three replacements
• Central: Two new units and one replacement

• Sullivan: One new unit and two replacements
• Davis: Three new units and two replacements
• Chinatown: Two new units and two replacements
• North Station: Two new units
• State Street: Two new units and two replacements
• Mass Ave: One new unit and one replacement
• Broadway: Two new units and two replacements
• Jackson Square: One new unit and one replacement
• Arlington Street: Three new units
• Wellington: Three new units and two replacements