Why is the MBTA so slow?

Track conditions that make slower speeds necessary can develop for several reasons, including age and weather. These sections of track are sometimes referred to as slow zones. Clearing speed restrictions can involve different kinds of work, including: Replacing aging rail ties and tie plates with new ones.



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T spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said the new slow zones, 11 on the Medford branch and 3 on the Union Square branch, are necessary after inspections this month found the rails are too close together at many spots. Operating trains at full speed on tracks that are too narrow risks derailment, track experts said.

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The problems lie with unclear responsibilities for the MBTA's maintenance workers who were also inadequately trained to do the job properly, according to the reports from Carlson Transport Consulting and the T's own safety department.

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These are the busiest T stops
  • Harvard Square's station sees an average of 23,199 travelers enter on weekdays.
  • An average of 23,478 passengers enter the Downtown Crossing station daily from Monday through Friday.
  • The busiest T stop, South Station, receieves a daily average of 25,037 riders on a typical weekday.


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The MBTA's finances have been in trouble for many years. In 2004 the MBTA Advisory Board budget report warned that the “threat to the operating budget and to the long-term fiscal solvency of the Authority is the tremendous debt load that the MBTA currently bears.

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The overall pricetag for the Circle Line would likely be in the range of $14.5B - $18.7B. This was determined by using an average cost per mile range of $850M - $1.1B. Everyone in Massachusetts would need to do their part and pay a portion of the cost.

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Lack of Funding: The MBTA relies heavily on state funding to operate, but funding has been inconsistent over the years. This has made it difficult for the MBTA to keep up with the maintenance and upgrades needed to keep the system running smoothly. Labor Costs: The cost of labor is a significant expense for the MBTA.

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4? Subway Tour | Porter MBTA Station (Red Line) | Deepest T station - YouTube. A quick look at Porter station, the deepest MBTA station in the T system at 105 feet (32m).

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The Tremont Street subway in Boston's MBTA subway system is the oldest subway tunnel in North America and the third oldest still in use worldwide to exclusively use electric traction (after the City and South London Railway in 1890, and the Budapest Metro's Line 1 in 1896), opening on September 1, 1897.

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Most of the MBTA's funding comes from two sources: internal revenue (fares, advertisements, and real estate) and government subsidies (sales tax and other assistance). A repair backlog of more than $7 billion and cumulative debt of $9 billion are plaguing the service.

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The simple answer is, “Because we don't want them.” The slightly longer answer is, “because the fastest trains are slower than flying; the most frequent trains are less convenient than driving; and trains are almost always more expensive than either flying or driving.”

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Property rights. One of the most expensive parts of building new rail lines these days is securing land along a relatively straight path (you can't run trains at high speeds along too sharp a curve). The U.S. has strong property rights which makes securing land exceedingly expensive.

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