MBTA Orange Line reaches milestone with removal of all slow zones

The MBTA's Orange Line is now free of slow zones for the first time in over ten years. This change follows extensive track work in October, which included multiple service shutdowns to allow crews to replace 17,500 feet of rail and 2,600 ties. Previously, the Orange Line had nine speed restrictions due to aging infrastructure. In March 2023, nearly the entire transit system was operating under restricted speeds. Now, less than 1% of the system is affected by slow zones. The MBTA aims to improve the entire transit system by the end of 2024. The recent upgrades mark a significant step toward achieving this goal.