Performance-based Planning and Programming—Transit Asset Management (TAM) Targets

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The Boston Region MPO envisions a modern, well-maintained transportation system that supports a sustainable, healthy, livable, and economically vibrant region. To achieve this vision, the transportation system must be safe and resilient; incorporate emerging technologies; and provide equitable access, excellent mobility, and varied transportation options.

-Destination 2040 Vision

On March 9, 2023, the MPO board voted to establish an updated set of TAM performance targets. Transit agencies and MPOs are required to set targets related to the state of good repair of passenger and service vehicles, facilities, and fixed-guideway infrastructure. The MPO’s TAM performance targets draw directly from targets set by the MBTA, CATA, and MWRTA and apply to State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023 (July 2022 through June 2023). For more information about TAM activities, performance measures, and targets, please refer to the memorandum titled SFY 2023 Transit Asset Management Targets (PDF) SFY 2023 Transit Asset Management Targets (HTML).

TAM Performance Values and SFY 2023 Targets: Transit Rolling Stock
		SFY 2022 Performance (as of June 30, 2022)			SFY 2023 Performance (as of 6/30/2023)
Agency	Asset Type	Number of Vehicles	Number of Vehicles Meeting or Exceeding ULB	Percent of Vehicles Meeting or Exceeding ULB	Target Percent of Vehicles Meeting or Exceeding ULB
MBTA	Buses^a	952	307	32%	32%
MBTA	Light Rail Vehicles	227	0	0%	0%
MBTA	Vintage Trolleys^a	7	7	100%	100%
MBTA	Heavy Rail Vehicles^b	472	252	53%	39%^c
MBTA	Commuter Rail Locomotives	81		23%	23%^c
MBTA	Commuter Rail Coaches	393	30	8%	7%
MBTA	Ferry Boats	4	0	0%	0%
MBTA	Paratransit Vehicles^d	704	0	0%	0%
CATA	Buses	16	4	25%	30%
CATA	Cutaway Vehicles^e	16	10	63%	5%
MWRTA	Automobiles	2	2	100%	100%^c
MWRTA	Vans^f	3	0	0%	0%
MWRTA	Cutaway vehicles^g	108	9	8%	25%

^a The SFY 2022 target anticipates improved performance compared to SFY 2021 performance.
^b MBTA vintage trolleys are used on the Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line.
^c The targets account for Red and Orange Line vehicle delivery.
^d The MBTA’s The RIDE paratransit vehicle data and target reflect automobiles and vans.
^e The NTD defines a cutaway vehicle as a vehicle in which a bus body is mounted on a van or light-duty truck chassis, which
may be reinforced or extended. CATA uses these vehicles to provide fixed-route and demand response service.
^f MWRTA’s vans are used to provide demand response service.
^g MWRTA uses cutaway vehicles to provide fixed-route and demand response service.
CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MWRTA = MetroWest
Regional Transit Authority. NTD = National Transit Database. SFY = state fiscal year. ULB = Useful Life Benchmark.
Source: CATA, MBTA, MWRTA, and Boston Region MPO staff.

SFY 2022 Performance and SFY 2023 Targets: Equipment (Nonrevenue Vehicles)
		SFY 2022 Performance (as of June 30, 2022)			SFY 2023 Performance (as of 6/30/2023)
Agency	Asset Type	Number of Vehicles	Number of Vehicles Meeting or Exceeding ULB	Percent of Vehicles Meeting or Exceeding ULB	Target Percent of Vehicles Meeting or Exceeding ULB
MBTA	All Equipment	1,417	315	22%	25%
CATA	All Equipment	3	3	100%	100%
MWRTA	All Equipment	11	4	36%	50%

CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MWRTA =
MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. SFY = state fiscal year. ULB = Useful Life Benchmark.
Source: CATA, MBTA, MWRTA, and Boston Region MPO staff.

SFY 2022 Performance and SFY 2023 Targets: Facilities
		SFY 2022 Performance (as of June 30, 2022)			SFY 2023 Performance (as of 6/30/2023)
Agency	Asset Type	Number of Facilities	Number of Facilities Rated < 3.0 on the FTA’s Term Scale	Percent of Facilities Rated < 3.0 on the FTA’s Term Scale	Target Percent of Facilities Rated < 3.0 on the FTA’s Term Scale
MBTA	Passenger/Parking Facilities^a^,^b	386	22	6%	7%
MBTA	Administrative/Maintenance Facilities^a	427	149	35%	35%
CATA	Administrative/Maintenance Facilities	1	0	0%	0%
MWRTA	Administrative/Maintenance Facilities	1	0	0%	0%

^a The MBTA reports performance targets for facilities with a baseline consistent assessment and continues to undertake physical condition assessments for
all facilities.
^b The FY 2023 target for passenger and parking facilities reflects the likelihood that five commuter rail assets will receive lower condition ratings this year:
South Attleboro, West Newton, Newtonville, Lynn Garage, and Lynn Station.
CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. FTA = Federal Transit Administration. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MWRTA = MetroWest
Regional Transit Authority. SFY = State Fiscal Year.
Source: CATA, MBTA, MWRTA, and Boston Region MPO staff.

SFY 2022 Performance and SFY 2023 MBTA Targets: Fixed Guideway Infrastructure
	SFY 2022 Performance (as of June 30, 2022)			SFY 2023 Performance (as of 6/30/2023)
Asset Type	Number of Miles	Number of Miles with Performance Restrictions	Percent of Miles with Performance Restrictions	Target Percent of Miles with Performance Restrictions
MBTA Transit Fixed Guideway^a	127	6	5%	2%
MBTA Commuter Rail Fixed Guideway	641	22	3%	4%

Note: For this performance measure, the term “miles” refers to “directional route miles,” which represents the miles managed and maintained
by the MBTA with respect to each direction of travel (for example, northbound and southbound), and excludes nonrevenue tracks such as yards,
turnarounds, and storage tracks. The baseline and target percentages represent the annual average number of miles meeting this criterion over
the 12-month reporting period.
^a The MBTA’s Transit Fixed Guideway information reflects light rail and heavy rail fixed guideway networks. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority. SFY = State Fiscal Year.
Source: MBTA and Boston Region MPO staff.