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First Renovated
Presidential Conference Car "Back On Track"
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Senator Brian A. Joyce announced that the inaugural ride on the first historically renovated MBTA Presidential Conference Car (PCC) trolley car on the Ashmont - Mattapan line took place on September 14, 1999. Attendees included Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Sullivan, MBTA General Manager Robert H. Prince, Jr., and Speaker Thomas M. Finneran along with Senator Joyce. Senator Joyce received a commitment from General Manager Prince in June of 1998 to restore the fifty-year-old cars instead of replacing them with bus service or other light rail vehicles. Over 7,000 passengers ride the trolleys from Mattapan, Milton and Dorchester to the Red Line into Boston, making restoration or replacement a necessity for the MBTA.
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Two cars were originally removed from the eleven-car fleet for restoration, and serve as prototypes for the refurbishment process, which will continue until June of 2000. The cars will be ADA-compliant, with more comfortable seating, and the 1940’s original burgundy, cream and orange color scheme. "It is a credit to the MBTA that they have committed to restoring the cars, given that this fleet is one of the three remaining PCC car systems in the country. I am excited and pleased to be a part of this process and I encourage the community to come out and welcome the restored trolleys back onto the line."
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