IMPROVING SERVICE ON THE MBTA GREEN LINE THROUGH BETTER OPERATIONS CONTROL

Abstract

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line is a four-branch light rail network that includes the nation's oldest subway section. It is operated with one- and two-car trains using articulated vehicles at trunk headways of less than 90 sec. Although a major investment has been made in track reconstruction, upgrading the power distribution system, and vehicle acquisition over the past decade, the high-frequency, high-ridership nature of the system makes it difficult to maintain good service quality given the myriad disruptions in service that routinely occur. Until now the critical operations control function has been performed principally in the field by supervisors located at key points in the system deciding whether and how to intervene in ongoing operations. Currently an automatic vehicle identification system is being implemented for the Green Line that will eventually provide the opportunity to restructure the operations control process.