News & Reviews News Wire MBTA state-of-good-repair needs grow to $24.5 billion

MBTA state-of-good-repair needs grow to $24.5 billion

By David Lassen | November 16, 2023

| Last updated on November 17, 2023

New estimate is much more than twice figure from just four years ago

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Work crew on rail line at night
MBTA crew members work on the Orange Line the week of Nov. 11-12, 2023. A new assessment from the agency estimates it faces state-of-good-repair needs of $24.5 billion. MBTA

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority needs a massive infusion of $24.5 billion to address state-of-good repair needs, more than twice the figure from its last estimate of such maintenance needs in 2019, the agency said in a report issued today.

The figure — up from $10 billion in the 2019 assessment — includes estimated needs of more than $5 billion each for facilities, structures, and power systems, and $2 billion or more for rolling stock and transit-network track. These figures only address keeping the current system in proper condition, not upgrades or expansion.

“The MBTA is one of the oldest transit agencies in the country,” MBTA CEO Phillip Eng said in a statement accompanying release of the agency’s Capital Needs Assessment and Inventory, “and while there are a number of contributing factors, it’s clear that years of underinvestment have added to the cost of bringing our system back to a state of good repair. Timely and appropriate actions are key to mitigating and avoiding more costly and potentially impactful efforts.”

The MBTA says the $14.5 billion increase from the last Capital Needs Assessment reflects factors including:

— A more comprehensive inventory that increased the number of assets included from 59,000 to nearly 83,700;

— Increased costs reflecting inflation and supply-chain issues;

— Assets that are aging faster than they are being replaced because of underinvestment.

The agency estimates more than 60% of its assets now need updating. Broken down by system, about $9.9 billion of the needs are for the heavy-rail commuter system, about $8 billion for commuter rail, and about $4.7 billion for light rail.

The report does not include a plan for funding to address the state-of-good-repair needs. And the Boston Globe reports officials have said the actual costs could be higher. The Globe also notes the MBTA is currently operating under a five-year, $9.7 billion funding plan that includes just $1.5 billion in new funding for reliability and modernization projects; the agency had sought $9.2 billion.

The full Capital Needs report is available here.

3 thoughts on “MBTA state-of-good-repair needs grow to $24.5 billion

  1. Pulling necessary maintenance does not lead to an army of politicians cutting a ribbon for the 11.00 news.

  2. It is time for previous management is dragged into court and made to testify under oath why these deferred maintenance items were ignored. Just let them to try to lie! That also goes for previous pols.

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