MBTA announces builder selected for critical expansion of Red Line Maintenance Yard

July 20, 2022
Major upgrades will lead to improved reliability and more frequent service.

A construction contract was awarded by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors for Codman Yard Expansion and Improvements.

As part of the MBTA’s Capital Programs, the capital transformation will make improvements to Codman Yard that will increase capacity and enhance the overall reliability and quality of service for all riders.

“The improvements made to Codman Yard will benefit the entire Red Line and the surrounding communities,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “Yards are critical to the efficiency of the MBTA, and I am excited to see this project progress and bring increased service reliability for all.”

Last month, the Red Line Transformation (RLT) team conducted a bid walkthrough at Codman Yard for builders to observe the site and submit bids. Now that a builder has been selected, plans to begin construction later this year can progress. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and is expected to be complete by fall 2025.

“As this project progresses, our team will be able to bring much-needed improvements to the Red Line as quickly as possible,” said MBTA Chief of Capital Transformation Angel Peña. “The upgrades to Codman Yard will benefit all Red Line riders. While construction can be disruptive, our team is committed to implementing mitigation strategies and is always looking for ways to accelerate the timeline and bring these improvements to completion sooner.”

Not only do yards store and deploy vehicles each day, but they are also used for crews to perform vehicle quality checks and clean the vehicles without disrupting service. Currently, there are 16 storage tracks at Codman Yard that can hold around 70 vehicles. Expanding and upgrading the yard includes replacing the existing tracks and building six new storage tracks, which will allow Codman to hold more than 100 cars. Additionally, the inspection pit, the Ashmont double crossover, vehicle wash, lighting and power will be replaced, providing an expanded, upgraded and fully functioning railroad yard.

Before any construction begins this fall, the Red Line Transformation team will hold a public meeting to communicate the expectations for construction prior to the builder mobilizing the site. A date for the public meeting will be announced as construction gets closer.

Capital Transformation follows a holistic approach to transforming the Green, Orange and Red Lines. The program is aligned by six levels of transformation: Improving Safety & Bringing Infrastructure into a State of Good Repair, Enhancing Accessibility, Replacing Legacy Fleets, Increasing Passenger Capacity, Modernizing Rider Experience and Expanding Service.