The Fairmount Line traverses neighborhoods where over 60 percent of Black Bostonians reside. Despite this, the line has suffered from chronic underinvestment, leaving communities along its route in dire need of faster, reliable transportation options. Presently, trains operate with significant gaps of 45 minutes on weekdays and a staggering 90 minutes on weekends, a service frequency that falls woefully short of meeting the community’s needs.

However, a beacon of hope shines on the horizon with a bold proposal before the MBTA, buoyed by investments in this year’s capital plan, to electrify the line. This transformative initiative pledges to redefine commuting along the Fairmount Line, offering trains every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends in just a few years. This represents a dramatic improvement in frequency, effectively doubling the number of trains available to passengers.

The transition to electric trains heralds a multitude of benefits for commuters. With faster travel times and quieter, more comfortable rides, these modern trains promise to elevate the overall commuting experience. Furthermore, this transition will play a pivotal role in reducing air and noise pollution, directly improving the quality of life for communities along the transit line by offering cleaner transportation options and encouraging a shift away from driving, thereby enhancing air quality.

At the same time, we applaud the recent schedule adjustments set to increase the current train service to every 30 minutes all day, starting later this year. This move is critical to making transit more accessible right now and sets us up for future wins on the Fairmount Line. It simplifies travel by making departure times easier to remember.

Decades of advocacy by the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition have underscored the urgent need for transit equity. These recent strides represent significant progress toward realizing their true rapid transit service vision. Serving some of Boston’s most transit-reliant communities, the Fairmount Line plays a pivotal role in ensuring access to fast, reliable, and affordable transit. Electrification will fulfill this critical need by enabling faster travel times, reliability, and frequency.

We support the upcoming schedule changes and ask the MBTA to expedite the vital electrification project. We call upon local and state policymakers to allocate the necessary resources to build on this momentum, improve station area access, and lower fares from Readville station. Investing in transit infrastructure prioritizing marginalized communities isn’t merely a matter of convenience; it’s a cornerstone in fostering a more equitable and inclusive transportation system. Let’s propel Boston’s public transportation toward an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable future.

Marilyn Forman lives in Dorchester. She is the co-chair of the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition.