Recent work on the Boston-area rail line is making service on the aging system faster and more reliable.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)’s Red Line is free of ‘slow zones’ for the first time in over 20 years, according to an article in Mass Transit.
The agency completed work on parts of the Red Line track, allowing trains to travel at full speed across the entire line. “Service was suspended between Harvard and Broadway the evening of Nov. 17 through Nov. 23 and between Harvard and JFK/UMass on Nov. 24, to allow maintenance crews to get the job done efficiently as part of the Track Improvement Program. Workers also maximized the outage by performing signal upgrades, security enhancements, station amenity upgrades and more.” Maintenance crews replaced 2,230 feet of rail, resurfaced and tamped 13,800 feet of track, and made repairs to stairways, tunnels, signals, and other infrastructure.
The agency says work that remains to be done on the Green Line next month will make the entire system slow zone-free.
FULL STORY: MBTA now slow zone-free for first time in 20 years

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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