Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding Plans for MBTA at Groundbreaking at New Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility

Massachusetts anticipated to receive over $9.5 billion over five years, including an increase in the re-authorization of federal transportation dollars.

Yesterday, the Baker-Polito Administration outlined plans to make significant and additional investments into the MBTA system with funding from the recently passed federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), including $852 million for vehicles, $412 million for stations and facilities, $295 million for bridges and tunnels, and $428 million for signal and system upgrades. 

Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak joined state and local elected leaders to make the announcement yesterday and celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility. As the oldest bus maintenance facility in the MBTA’s system, the current Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility lacks the required technology and space to support newer buses. The future Bus Maintenance Facility in Quincy will be able to accommodate a larger, more modern fleet, can accommodate up to 120 battery-electric buses (BEBs), and will allow for potential service expansion in the future while supporting the MBTA’s efforts to lessen its environmental impact. The new facility will also be located across the street from Quincy Adams Station on the Red Line and within a mile of Quincy Center Station where many Quincy bus routes start. The MBTA anticipates drawing on multiple funding sources to construct the Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility that are both MBTA and federal sources, including federal formula funds increased and authorized under the BIL as well as potentially one of the competitive federal grants.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver billions in funding to the Commonwealth, helping to continue to support the investments our Administration has made to the MBTA to provide critical capital improvements that make the system more reliable and resilient,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are grateful for the efforts of the congressional delegation to secure this funding for Massachusetts, and we look forward to delivering more projects like this one across the state.”

“Thank you to the members of the delegation for delivering this funding to Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “The BIL will help support important investments in upgraded facilities like the maintenance garage in Quincy, new vehicles, and key signal and system upgrades as the MBTA works to deliver service to all its riders in communities throughout the Commonwealth.”

“We are here to celebrate in Quincy because this new bus maintenance facility represents the kind of meaningful capital investments that the Baker-Polito Administration and MBTA can and will make to improve reliability and service throughout the network with these resources,” said Secretary Tesler. “The MBTA’s fleet and facility modernization decisions are not made in isolation, but as an integrated strategy to help us achieve our greater goals which include increasing the fleet size and pursuing a bus network redesign that meets the needs of a growing and changing ridership, with a focus on equity, service, reliability and sustainability.”

“As we build a better T for our riders, the BIL will give us additional momentum by delivering $2.2 billion in MBTA formula funds over the next 5 years with $1.6 billion in spending already programmed and $580 million intended for new projects,” said General Manager Poftak. “We’re grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration and the delegation who brought these BIL funds to the T, which will support critical improvements like the new Quincy bus facility, as well as our state and local partners whose collaboration makes these kinds of important projects possible. We believe providing modern, reliable service is imperative now more than ever as we move beyond the pandemic, and this funding is instrumental in helping us accelerate improvements over the next five years and build a better T more quickly.”

“If we have learned anything from recent weather forecasts, it’s that climate change is having an immediate impact on our region and that we need the public infrastructure to address it,” said Senator John Keenan. “This project represents more than just replacing the oldest bus maintenance facility in the MBTA’s network. This is a serious commitment to a more energy-efficient and prepared Commonwealth.”

“The new bus facility here in Quincy is emblematic of the countless important projects that will be funded by state investments and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “In Quincy, across Massachusetts, and around the country, it is absolutely critical that our public transportation systems are both reliable and sustainable. I am proud of the work that was done on the federal and state level to make this project possible, and I look forward to seeing it completed.”

“The Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility is just one of the many projects the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will bring to completion,” said Representative Tackey Chan. “The new garage paves the way for a modern, climate-friendly bus system in Quincy and a healthier and more sustainable future.”

“It was my pleasure to join Governor Baker, Senator Warren, Mayor Koch, Speaker Ron Mariano, and all my local colleagues in government to break ground on the new MBTA Quincy Electric Bus Maintenance facility and celebrate the $9 billion in federal funding Massachusetts will be receiving from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Representative Stephen Lynch. “These federal funds will enable huge investments to be made in our infrastructure which will improve safety, create a greener, more efficient MBTA, and update its security, maintenance, and operations systems. I am grateful to work with such dedicated partners at the federal, state, and local levels and I look forward to seeing the enormous impact this new facility will have on our environment, the residents of Quincy, and surrounding communities.”

The MBTA expects to receive $2.2 billion over the next five years that will fund $1.6 billion in spending already programmed and $580 million for new projects. 

As programmed in the current State Transportation Improvement Program, the MBTA plans to invest $2 billion, including state and MBTA matching funds, over the next five years in a variety of projects including vehicles, signal upgrades, and station and facility improvements. These projects include:

• $852 million for vehicles
  • Green Line 10 Rail Fleet Replacement 
  • 80 Battery Electric Buses 
• $412 million for stations and facilities
  • Quincy Bus Facility
  • Codman Yard Expansion
• $295 million for bridges and tunnels
  • Dorchester Avenue Bridge
  • Norfolk and East Cottage Street Bridges
• $428 million for signal and system upgrades
  • Red and Orange Line Signals
  • Green Line Train Protection

Through the annual 5-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) development process, the MBTA is currently reviewing options for investing the $580 million in the BIL’s additional formula funding. The MBTA expects that most of these funds will go to State of Good Repair projects including funding for projects that are currently only partially paid for in the existing STIP. For information on the CIP, please visit here. For information on the STIP, please visit here.

The MBTA is also developing a strategy for reviewing and competing for discretionary funding opportunities. This strategy will continue to be refined as further details are provided by the federal government. Projects for which such funding might be sought could include, but are not limited to: bus electrification, dedicated bus lanes, Core Capacity-eligible investments, the Arborway Bus Facility, station accessibility improvements, reconstruction of the Southwest Corridor portion of the Orange Line, double tracking commuter rail lines, commuter rail electrification early action investments, commuter rail additional vehicle replacements to reduce the MBTA’s carbon footprint, and drawbridge replacements.

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