MBTA to Host Draw One Industry Forum for Contractors in November

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today announced details for The Draw One Industry Forum on November 18 at 9:00 a.m. at the Transportation Building, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, to support the landmark $1.2 billion Draw One Bridge Replacement Program. The convening will bring together contractors to reimagine the drawbridge representing one of the largest federal infrastructure investments in the MBTA’s and region’s history.

The MBTA welcomes consulting firms, Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE), qualified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Veteran-owned, and small businesses to attend the forum in order to learn more and provide feedback.

"As we rebuild our infrastructure, maintaining a strong partnership with industry is essential. This forum is just the beginning of that engagement for the North Station Draw One Bridge replacement. Not only will we replace the aging movable bridge, but we will replace the control tower, modernize signals, and improve our rail infrastructure giving us the necessary operational flexibility to improve service for our riders today and for future generations to come,” said MBTA CEO and General Manager Phillip Eng. “Giving the public the safe and reliable service they deserve and expect is only part of our mission as we build a system that I hope will be the preferred mode of travel.”

Draw One Industry Forum Details

The Draw One Industry Forum will serve as the launch pad for this initiative. The forum will include introductory remarks, a project overview, a presentation, and a site tour. It will be followed by one-on-one meetings with MBTA representatives on Nov. 19 and 20. Space and attendance are limited to two people per contracting firm. Electronic responses must be submitted here no later than 11:59 p.m. (EST) on November 1, 2024. For those unable to attend the forum in person, a virtual option is available, and reservations are required.

Key Program Highlights

Three state-of-the-art vertical lift bridge structures
Comprehensive upgrades to trackwork and signaling systems
New North Station platform to improve passenger capacity
Innovative design to accommodate both rail and marine traffic
Construction of a new control tower
Minimum of 4 active tracks over the Charles River
Modifications to the North Bank Bridge
Minimal disruption, maximum impact with 8 operational tracks at North Station
Uninterrupted marine passage beneath the bridge during construction

The Draw One Bridge, a 1930s-era structure located directly adjacent to North Station, spans the Charles River and supports four tracks of the Northside Commuter Rail system. Due to its age and condition, the bridge requires replacement with modern, resilient structures to continue serving the region's transportation needs. In addition to replacing the bridge, the project will extend Station Platform F, connect tracks 11 and 12 to the existing network, and implement wide-ranging upgrades to track, signal, and related infrastructure. Providing a better track network to get into and out of North Station will enable a more predictable and timely movement of trains.

"This is a major investment in our transportation system but also a major investment in the future, as it allows us to reimagine the future of transportation in our region: greater reliability, frequency and connecting people and communities that continues to improve peoples’ quality of life," continued General Manager Eng.

The replacement of Draw One is a proactive step by the MBTA to ensure the uninterrupted movement of trains for generations to come. To minimize impacts to customers during construction, the project will be staged to provide four working tracks across the river at all times, which is the current capacity of the bridge system in place today.

Industry professionals can learn more and register here.