Statement Regarding Orange Line Shutdown

Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Coalition for an Equitable Economy, and the Asian Business Empowerment Council Joint Statement Regarding the MBTA’s Month-long Orange Line Closure

Boston, MA – As communities across Greater Boston brace for the MBTA’s 30-day Orange Line shut down on Friday, August 19th, The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), the Coalition for an Equitable Economy, and the Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC) are deeply concerned about the effect this shutdown will have on our community members, many of which are Black and Asian residents, that rely on the MBTA for transportation every day. 

The pause of the MBTA’s popular subway line affects a vital corridor connecting Boston’s downtown area to predominantly Black neighborhoods, including Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Roxbury, and Mission Hill,  as well as Asian workers and residents in Chinatown. Residents depend on the MBTA for safe transit to work, business, school, shopping, and other elements of daily life.  

Unfortunately, MBTA safety and efficiency issues have plagued the transit system for years. Accidents, derailments, and disruptions put people’s lives and livelihood at risk, while also eroding trust in the system and its leadership. We have not been reassured by the quality of the MBTA’s prior mitigation efforts and now its communications to riders about this new initiative. “Without translated signage or easy access to interpretation services in advance of the shutdown, non-English speakers face a monumental task just to plan their commutes. They were the last to learn about the shutdown. We need to work proactively and collaboratively when designing an equitable solution.” said Q.J. Shi, Director of the Asian Business Empowerment Council. Riders deserve a firm commitment from the MBTA that Orange Line service will significantly improve after this unprecedented diversion. The MBTA must also demonstrate that it can hold true to its commitment for the 30-day timeline and that it has strong oversight controls that were lacking during the recent Blue Line shutdown. 

Furthermore, as plans are made for this effort, minority contractors, including BECMA members, have no clear understanding of how or if the MBTA will engage business owners of color during this process. “We were very disappointed that the MBTA has failed to detail a concrete plan to prioritize diversity and inclusion for both subcontractors and the workforce that will be needed to execute the Orange Line project,” said Nicole Obi, President & CEO of BECMA. 

We applaud the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus for urging the MBTA to ensure that the businesses engaged in this project reflect the diverse communities along the Orange Line. Additionally, we are thankful to the leadership of Mayor Wu and Council President Flynn for engaging the community to push for adding shuttle stops in Chinatown. “Until today, there were no plans to have a shuttle service to and from Chinatown, which would have placed yet another disproportionate burden on AAPI-owned businesses,” said Q.J. Shi, Director of the ABEC.

The effects of this shutdown will impact all of us. We need to work collaboratively to design an equitable solution. Throughout the shutdown, our organizations will actively provide updates on resources and other information through our newsletter and social media platforms.