Governor Maura Healey announced on March 5 the advancement of the North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement Project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at modernizing a key rail connection between Boston and Cambridge. The project is supported by a $472.3 million federal grant, which is the largest federal infrastructure award in Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) history, and is expected to create more than 15,600 direct and indirect jobs across Massachusetts.
At an event attended by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Interim Secretary and General Manager Phil Eng, and members of the Ironworkers and union building trades, Healey marked the signing of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to support construction of the new bridge. “Replacing the Draw One Bridge is one of the most important rail infrastructure projects in Massachusetts history,” said Governor Healey. “This project represents the kind of investments we are making in Massachusetts – creating thousands of good jobs while rebuilding critical infrastructure that keeps our economy and transportation network moving. This agreement will help ensure this project is completely safely, on time and on budget, and we’re proud to stand with our partners in labor to deliver this for the people of Massachusetts.” According to Healey, this agreement aims to ensure safety, timeliness, and budget adherence.
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll said: “Every week, more than a thousand trains rely on the Draw One Bridge to reach North Station. Replacing this aging infrastructure will improve reliability, expand capacity, and strengthen rail connections across Massachusetts and Northern New England and support expanded regional rail service for years to come.” The PLA sets consistent wages, safety standards, and working conditions for contractors and subcontractors involved in delivering what officials describe as a highly complex multi-year construction effort.
Interim Transportation Secretary Phillip Eng said: “Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we are focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects like the North Station Draw 1 Bridge replacement. We are proud of the jobs that work like this will create and support. This Project Labor Agreement is invaluable to the successful delivery of Draw 1. It provides labor stability, harmony, and predictability for this highly complex, multi-year construction effort…while ensuring the MBTA can maintain active rail operations and service for the public.” The bridge currently serves as a primary gateway into North Station for over 1,100 passenger trains each week from both MBTA Commuter Rail lines and Amtrak’s Downeaster service.
The replacement project will expand tracks crossing over the Charles River from four to six while increasing capacity at North Station from eight to twelve total tracks. Through design-build strategies adopted by MBTA planners, officials say they have shortened construction timelines from eight years down to approximately six-and-a-half years; contractor selection remains pending as procurement continues.
Broader labor stability at MBTA has been highlighted following ratification in July 2024 of new four-year collective bargaining agreements with all 28 MBTA unions—the first such occurrence in fifteen years—covering sixteen contracts with wage increases averaging eighteen percent over their duration. More information about these developments can be found on the official roster page.
