MassDOT plots $394 million in capital investments for MBTA in FY2016

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) early last week released a draft of its capital expenditure plan for fiscal-year 2016, which begins July 1.

The document includes capital projects for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), as well as MassDOT as a whole. Specific efforts for the MBTA include the Green Line Extension project, as well as the procurement of new vehicles for the Red and Orange lines.

Of the $394 million allotted for the MBTA, $83.7 million will go toward implementing Massachusetts Gov. Charles Baker's winter contingency plan for the transit agency.

In total, the Capital Investment Program will invest $3 billion in statewide transportation for FY2016.

"While we reevaluate our priorities and advance new project selection criteria, our plan for fiscal 2016 will create a bridge that will allow us to develop a new five-year plan that is realistic, meets each regions’ needs, and spends money wisely," said MassDot Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Pollack in a statement. "In addition to the investments proposed here, fixing the T and delivering the world-class transportation system the people deserve will require the systemic changes the governor is seeking in our legislation to reform the T."