Driscoll Returns to MBTA Board of Directors to Talk Mattapan Line Projects and Local Assessment Formula Report

December 22, 2025

Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) returned to the MBTA Board of Directors at their Wednesday, December 18th meeting to inform them on two important items.

Reflecting on his previous visit to an MBTA Board of Directors meeting earlier this year, he noted that he feels it is an “obligation for me to come to these meetings occasionally, to make sure that I offer my perspective as a Legislator and also a perspective from constituents that use the MBTA. And to make sure that you have this information, because frankly, I'm not quite sure what the perspective is, that is sometimes shared about what's going on, on some of the projects.”

This board meeting followed the first Mattapan Line Transformation Program public meeting since June of 2023, which took place the evening prior.

His remarks detailed the outrageous lack of specifics available at this stage of the projects, and unclear timeline going forward regarding the transformation project that is supposed to renovate all stations and stops of the Mattapan Line but is years and years behind schedule. Additionally, the Mattapan line was originally meant to receive eight refurbished PCC trolleys by August of 2019. As of now, only four have been delivered to the line and the overall total slated for delivery was cut from eight, to six and now to five, despite the MBTA infusing an additional $4 million into the project after it publicly came to light in 2020-2021 that little progress had been made on delivering any of the refurbished trolleys.

Driscoll called attention to the lack of substantive developments related to these long open projects, and the T's inability to hold to promises made related to the schedule of updates to the public.

Watch his full remarks, here, starting at 18 minutes and 9 seconds.

Following his statement, the MBTA Board Chair thanked the Senator for joining, and welcomed continued dialogue on these topics with the Board.

See a transcript of Senator Driscoll’s full remarks, here:

Driscoll MBTA BOD Testimony_12.18.25.pdf

Download PDF • 126KB

For more information on the MBTA Assessments study, see here and here:

MBTA Assessments Study_Amendment S.2655_FY25 Closeout Budget.pdf

Download PDF • 59KB

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