Boston City Councilors Call On State To Build Red-Blue Connector

BOSTON — Boston City Councilors just adopted a resolution urging the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to procure design-build services to connect the Red and Blue lines by the end of 2019.

"Building the connector would reduce congestion, improve transportation connectivity, promote access to medical care, shorten commutes and link key [area] institutions such as Logan Airport, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass Eye and Ear, the Kendall Square innovation district, MIT and Harvard," said Councilor Lydia Edwards, the sponsor of a resolution at this week’s City Council meeting.

The idea of connecting the only two trains in the MBTA system that don't link has been something the city has discussed on again off again since at least the 1970s.

Last year MBTA revived the discussion with a three-month study of just how one would work. The T hired an engineering firm called VHB to the tune of $50,000 to put together the study. A Connector proposal was included in the State’s 2020-2024 Capital Investment Plan.

While many are for making that connection easier, others say a north-south rail link and a South Coast Rail or even improvements to the Green Line tunnel in Back Bay should also be top of the list.

Then there's a movement afoot to encourage the state to create a 17 mile circle line rapid tranit route connecting all of the lines.

Related:

• It's Back: MBTA Looks At Blue, Red Line Connector Link April 2018
• Red Line Mockup Debuts at Boston City Hall Aug. 2018

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).