BOSTON — A new MBTA locomotive procurement is drawing pushback from transit advocates, who warned Thursday that it could undercut long-term rail modernization goals.
The MBTA in February issued a request for proposals seeking 10 battery-electric locomotives and 10 new diesel engines that meet federal “Tier 4” emissions standards, as officials look to replace an aging commuter rail fleet and reduce pollution. The procurement, which includes options for up to 50 additional locomotives, comes as the T faces a “fleet cliff,” with about half its engines expected to reach the end of their useful life in the 2030s.
The MBTA’s Capital Improvement Plan, released in March, budgets $373.7 million for the procurement, and the agency says it expects to award the contract this summer…