MBTA Slow Zones: Everything You Need to Know
Commuters know the frustration of MBTA Slow Zones all too well. Learn why these restrictions exist and what we need to prevent them for good.

Commuters know the frustration of MBTA Slow Zones all too well. Learn why these restrictions exist and what we need to prevent them for good.
Britteny Jenkins, CLF’s Vice President for the Environmental Justice Program shares her journey and goals for our region. She will lead our transportation, climate justice, and zero waste efforts.
To make closures as painless as possible, the MBTA must prioritize: 1. Timely Announcements, 2. Transit Alternatives, 3. Transparency, 4. Translation, and 5. Thinking Ahead.
“This level of dysfunction and irresponsibility defies explanation,” said CLF attorney Seth Gadbois. “The previous administration was clearly more interested in cutting a ribbon than getting this project done safely and correctly. CLF sued to ensure that this extension was built, and this is now an opportunity for the Healey administration to commit to public transit and repair public trust.”
“Goals and promises are meaningless without real action on the ground,” said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President of CLF Massachusetts. “The previous administration took little actual action to meet the goals laid out in Massachusetts’ strong climate laws, we now have an opportunity to do better. If we want to leave a healthy future for the next generation, it’s time to ditch fossil fuels and electrify everything from transportation to home heating, and these petitions lay out steps Massachusetts must take to get us there.”
Across modes of transportation, neighborhoods, and seasons, extreme weather threatens the safety of MBTA riders.
“The MBTA is in crisis, and it’s time for bold leadership at the top to turn the situation around while centering equity, climate resiliency, and increased frequency,” said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President of CLF Massachusetts. “Phillip is an excellent choice to lead the T at this critical time. The thousands of people who depend on the T to get around the region deserve a safe, reliable system, and CLF will be at the table with new leadership to make sure that happens.”
Climate change threatens transportation safety and people’s ability to access crucial resources. But, with the right planning and on-the-ground work, we can ensure a safe and reliable transit system for all.
“After waiting 30 years, this is a historic day for communities that depend on the MBTA,” said CLF President Brad Campbell. “The long-delayed Green Line extension will finally unlock reliable rapid transit for thousands of people in Medford and Somerville. CLF will be continuing to push for the expansion of the Medford branch to Route 16 to bring access to even more residents in the coming years.”
The Green Line extension to Medford is finally here. Today, after 8 years of delays, a new branch of the Green Line – consisting of five stations reaching out into Medford – opened its doors to riders.