SALEM — MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng laid out a sweeping vision for regional transportation reform during a North Shore Chamber of Commerce executive forum Tuesday evening at the Hawthorne Hotel, emphasizing infrastructure investment, multimodal coordination, and Lynn’s pivotal role in the system’s future.
Speaking to a packed room of municipal leaders and business stakeholders, Eng described the MBTA as a system in recovery — one that had been “on the verge of collapse” but is now showing measurable progress thanks to what he called a shift in urgency, transparency, and internal capability.
“When I got here, 10 percent of subway tracks were in a state of good repair,” Eng said. “Today we’re at 60 percent, and we’ll be at 75 percent by the end of the year. What used to be a 40-year job, we’re now doing in one — and doing it more cost-effectively.”
Eng, a civil engineer with four decades of experience in New York and Massachusetts, said the T is no longer trying to “patch and delay,” but instead focusing on transformation: eliminating hundreds of speed restrictions, upgrading signals, modernizing trains, and expanding ferry and bus service.
He said the MBTA is now operating under a regional rail mindset — shifting from traditional peak-hour commuter models to frequent, all-day service that reflects changing travel patterns.
“The pandemic changed how and when people move,” he said. “We can’t build a system for yesterday. We’re building one for today — and for what riders need tomorrow.”
Lynn is already seeing the impact. Eng highlighted the rapid installation of the temporary commuter rail platform as a model of fast, practical investment. “We were spending more on shuttle buses between Swampscott and Lynn than it would cost to build a platform,” he said. “So we did it — quickly and cheaply.”
In a follow-up conversation, Mayor Jared Nicholson said the city is pressing for a garage redevelopment plan that reflects broader goals. “It’s not just about parking,” Nicholson said. “That site is the front door to downtown. It’s a transit gateway between Greater Boston and the North Shore, and we need a solution that supports growth, access, and community needs.”
Nicholson added that the city is looking for a long-term, transit-oriented design that welcomes visitors while serving local riders. “We see the garage as a way to welcome people coming up from Boston or down from the North Shore,” he said. “And we’re encouraged that the MBTA has embraced that vision.”
The MBTA is also exploring the possibility of a second Lynn stop near the Gear Works development, ferry service expansions, and electrification along the Eastern Route. Eng noted that two used ferry vessels acquired from New York have already allowed the agency to improve water service efficiency.
“We shaved 35 minutes off some routes just by splitting service,” he said. “The Lynn Ferry is part of that larger vision — and yes, we slowed down for the whales, but we’d always rather be safe than sorry.”
McGee, now chair of the MBTA Board, said Lynn’s progress is the result of both agency leadership and local advocacy. “There’s really good things going on,” he said. “We’re seeing the kind of transformation that this region has needed for a long time — and it’s happening because people are working together.”
He urged continued regional support for major initiatives like electrification and North Station improvements. “We need strong voices from across the North Shore — business leaders, elected officials, and residents — all pushing for the next phase of investment,” McGee said. “Our economic future depends on it.”
Eng echoed that call and said the MBTA’s current success comes not from playing it safe, but from being willing to act decisively. “It’s easy to come up with reasons you can’t do something,” he said. “The real challenge is to find a way to deliver. That’s what we’re trying to do — and we’re just getting started.”
