System-Wide Accessibility Improvements

The MBTA is more accessible than ever.
Over the past decade, we’ve:
- Constructed more than 50 new station elevators, with another 70 in the pipeline
- Added 1,000 accessible buses to our fleet featuring ramps at every front door, a reconfigured seating layout providing riders with more space, and clear, reliable stop announcements
- Started rolling out brand new subway cars on multiple lines that are our most accessible yet
- Launched initiatives to improve operator trainings, rider resources, community outreach, and design and policy standards
But we’re not slowing down. The MBTA is committed to building a fully accessible system. And we’ve been hard at work developing our Plan for Accessible Transit Infrastructure (PATI)—a roadmap for the improvements that will help us get there.
Identifying Accessibility Barriers
It’s easy to identify our biggest barriers, like inaccessible stations and stops. But to achieve full accessibility, we need to identify the other meaningful barriers that can make using the MBTA a challenge. One of the primary objectives of PATI is to survey our entire network of stations and bus stops to catalog barriers like missing curb ramps, heavy station doors, and obstructions in the path of travel.
The effort has yielded a mass of data about the types and locations of access barriers throughout the system. We can’t fix everything at once, so we worked with outside groups who helped prioritize all of the improvements we want to make.
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
How We Set Priorities
Many factors go into setting priorities for what, where, and when accessibility improvements should be made across the system. For example, we consider the “readiness” of an improvement—that is, how quickly and easily it could be implemented, either on its own or as part of another ongoing infrastructure project.
Some other factors include:
- The overall ridership at a given station or stop
- The number of seniors and people with disabilities living in the area
- The severity of existing barriers
Different needs may emerge over time, and some of the priorities we’ve set through PATI may change—but our commitment to a fully accessible system will not.
Mode-Specific Plans

The current state of accessibility varies from mode to mode, and so do our plans to achieve 100% accessibility on each.
Bus Stops
There are 7,690 MBTA bus stops, and 12% have two or more significant barriers to access.
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.
Green Line
There are 66 Green Line stops—underground, elevated, and at street level. 75% of underground/elevated stations are accessible, while only 45% of street-level stops are.
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
- 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
Orange Line
There are 20 Orange Line stations, and all of them are accessible.
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
Red Line
There are 22 Red Line stations, and all of them are accessible.
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.
Blue Line
There are 12 Blue Line stations, and 11 of them are accessible.
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
Mattapan Line
There are 8 Mattapan Line stations, and 7 of them are accessible.
Valley Road is the only inaccessible station on the Mattapan Line. All of our other Mattapan Line stations are accessible.
Commuter Rail
- There are 142 Commuter Rail stations, and 110 of them 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
System-Wide Improvements

Often, we want to make one or more smaller-scale accessibility improvements in multiple locations across the system. To do that as efficiently as possible, we may create dedicated programs for these improvements, or incorporate them into other T programs that are addressing related improvements and upgrades system-wide.
Examples of improvements that fall under this category include:
- Installing automatic door openers
- Installing detectable warnings
- Improving accessible parking spaces
- Repairing defects on sidewalks, ramps, stairways, and other paths of travel
- Adding or updating wayfinding signs or technology
Elevator and Escalator Replacements
We’re developing a plan to help us target inaccessible elevators and escalators throughout the system for replacement. Construction is already underway (and even complete) at some of our busiest stations, while other elevator projects are in various stages of design and/or funding approval.
- 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 (728, 848, 849, 850, 851): Five elevators—728 and 848 (lower busway), 849 (Commuter Rail), 850 (Orange Line), and 851 (Forsyth Street)—have been installed or replaced and are in service as of December 2021.
- Quincy Adams (805, 806, and 807): Elevator 806 was 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
- Arlington Street: Three new units
- Broadway: Two new units and two replacements
- Chinatown: Two new units and two replacements
- Davis: Two new units and two replacements
- Jackson Square: One new unit and one replacement
- Mass Ave: One new unit and one replacement
- North Station: Two new units
- State Street: Two new units and two replacements
- Sullivan: One new unit and two replacements
- Wellington: Three new units and two replacements
Building a Better T
As part of our $8 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
Recent Updates
Related Projects
Accessible Technology
Better Bus Project
The experience of taking an MBTA bus fails to live up to our own standards in too many ways. Through the Better Bus Project, we're changing that.
Stay Informed
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Building a Better T
As part of our $8 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
Recent Updates
Related Projects
Accessible Technology
Better Bus Project
The experience of taking an MBTA bus fails to live up to our own standards in too many ways. Through the Better Bus Project, we're changing that.