Electrify the Providence Line


Electrify the Providence Line
The Issue
The MBTA Providence Line commuter rail runs 69.2 miles from Boston's South Station to Wickford Junction in Rhode Island. This line is the busiest line in the entire MBTA commuter rail network. However, since MBTA trains rely entirely upon diesel locomotives, this line is unable to run as frequently as electrified trains, and contributes to increased Carbon emissions.Virtually the entire length of the Providence line runs along the fully-electrified Northeast Corridor, yet the MBTA refuses to electrify this line, instead running diesel trains under electrified wires. In the MBTA's 2026-2030 Capital plan, an investment in battery-electric trains for the unnelectrified Fairmount Line is included as a confirmed investment, yet the MBTA claims that there are no plans or funds to electrify the Providence Line, not even with battery-electric trains. This petition requests that Massachusetts governor Maura Healey, the MBTA board, and the Massachusetts invest in electrification where it is most obvious and convinient.
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The Issue
The MBTA Providence Line commuter rail runs 69.2 miles from Boston's South Station to Wickford Junction in Rhode Island. This line is the busiest line in the entire MBTA commuter rail network. However, since MBTA trains rely entirely upon diesel locomotives, this line is unable to run as frequently as electrified trains, and contributes to increased Carbon emissions.Virtually the entire length of the Providence line runs along the fully-electrified Northeast Corridor, yet the MBTA refuses to electrify this line, instead running diesel trains under electrified wires. In the MBTA's 2026-2030 Capital plan, an investment in battery-electric trains for the unnelectrified Fairmount Line is included as a confirmed investment, yet the MBTA claims that there are no plans or funds to electrify the Providence Line, not even with battery-electric trains. This petition requests that Massachusetts governor Maura Healey, the MBTA board, and the Massachusetts invest in electrification where it is most obvious and convinient.
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Petition created on August 10, 2025
