Testimony: MBTA March Board Meeting
March 27, 2026
On March 26, Amir Wilson testified at the MBTA Board Meeting to affirm support for the North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement Project, to highlight the importance of the MBTA Capital Improvement Plan process, and to flag clarifying questions regarding World Cup preparation. See the full testimony below:
Amir Wilson, Transportation Policy & Data Manager, on behalf of A Better City
Chair McGee, Members of the Board, Secretary & General Manager Eng, thank you for the opportunity to deliver comments today.
My name is Amir Wilson, Transportation Policy & Data Manager, delivering testimony on behalf of A Better City. As you may know, A Better City represents a multi-sector group of more than 130 business leaders focused on advancing its vision to create a more vibrant, competitive, sustainable, and equitable city and region for all.
Today, I have a few comments to make. First, to express A Better City’s support for the North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement Project. The replacement of the bridge and signal infrastructure is essential to continue running existing service safely and reliably, and to allow future higher frequency and faster service as part of the MBTA’s vision for Regional Rail.
Second, thank you, and MBTA staff, for the overview of the draft FY27-31 Capital Investment Plan, and the update on decarbonization efforts on the agenda today. As A Better City has testified in the past, it is imperative to prioritize both decarbonization and resilience investments in the CIP, alongside critical investments to address ongoing maintenance needs and to improve service in the near-term.
A Better City is also grateful for your ongoing efforts to prepare for the World Cup and would like to call attention to a few high-level questions: Have you considered adding another stop en route to the stadium? Would you be willing to share more information about how you determined the ticket price points? And can you clarify the number of parking spaces expected to be available at the stadium, as we have heard anecdotally there has been some confusion on this point?
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I yield my remaining time back to the Chair.
