MBTA Resilience Roadmap to Improve Safety and Reliability

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has released its first-ever Resilience Roadmap. The plan outlines near- and long-term strategies to strengthen transit infrastructure, bolster safety, and prepare against events such as flooding and extreme heat and cold.

“Much of our infrastructure wasn’t built for heavier rainfall, more frequent storms, and heat waves—conditions that can cause flooding, damage, and service disruptions,” said Massachusetts’ Energy and Environmental Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “MBTA’s roadmap targets practical upgrades to strengthen reliability and safety.”

The plan focuses on nine priority area investments that protect critical assets, support safe operations, and minimize service disruptions. These include:

• Investing in the resilience and reliability of the power system
• Protecting tunnels and stations from flooding
• Reducing heat exposure for riders and employees
• Improving the resilience of signal and communications systems
• Addressing flooding at stations and support facilities
• Upgrading tracks and facilities to withstand extreme temperatures

Within each priority area, the plan identifies resilience strategies and actions—23 are recommended to place within the next five years. Each strategy identifies risks addressed, potential locations, responsible departments, and estimated costs. The roadmap also emphasizes the need for sustained capital investment, internal knowledge sharing, and regional collaboration to advance the work.

MBTA Interim Secretary and General Manager Phillip Eng said, “Riders deserve safe, reliable, and robust service now and in the future. I’m thankful to the many MBTA teams, experts, and advocates who helped us map out a plan to protect our system and assets.”