MBTA officials are planning to update residents Wednesday on what’s happening with long-delayed improvements to the Mattapan Hi-Speed Trolley line, a 2.6 mile extension of the Red Line that still features beloved but antiquated PCC trolley cars built during the Second World War.
The meeting will take place via Zoom on Wed., Dec. 17 from 6-8 p.m.
According to an advisory sent out to media, the purpose of the meeting is to “provide updates on the Mattapan Line Program, opportunities for public involvement, and a question-and-answer session.”
“The MBTA is making improvements to the Mattapan Line to ensure accessible, reliable, and modern service for Dorchester, Mattapan, and Milton for years to come,” the advisory declared. “This program will implement a state of good repair, as well as accessibility, safety, and rider experience improvements to infrastructure that will support future service and deployment of the Type 9 light rail vehicle.”
It’s been nearly eight years since MBTA officials announced plans for a $128 million “transformation” of the Mattapan line. At that time, the T management said that the project would happen over a ten-year period and would include restorations of the old trolleys while work took place along the right-of-way to prepare for the eventual introduction of so-called Type 9 vehicles currently in use on the Green Line.
Since then, lawmakers have periodically criticized the transit agency for delays with the project.
Last May, State Rep. William Driscoll (D-Milton) told The Reporter: “It’s clearly not a priority for the MBTA. That is evident in the fact that […] we don’t know what’s going on. If workers were actually being posted and tasked with doing the work, I have a hard time believing that it would take this long.”
