MBTA, MassDOT, and Keolis Celebrate Earth Day with Fairmount Line Station Cleanup

In honor of Earth Day 2025, MBTA, MassDOT, and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) employees teamed up to cleanup four MBTA Commuter Rail stations along the Fairmount Line including Uphams Corner, Four Corners/Geneva, Talbot Ave, and Morton Street Stations.

Cleanup activities took place from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and gratitude was offered by MassDOT Undersecretary Hayes Morrison, MBTA Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer Deirdre Habershaw, and Keolis Vice President of Asset Management John Killeen.

"Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll envision a Massachusetts where we all work together-where every effort, from improving access to public transportation and expanding housing options, to building climate-resilient infrastructure and strengthening education and workforce training, is a team effort focused on making life better for people," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "By taking part in Earth Day events, our employees show their commitment not just to public service, but to the greater good. We thank them for volunteering, and we're grateful to everyone doing their part to protect and improve our environment."

[DRAFT] "Earth Day isn't just a holiday, it's a lifestyle we're continually working toward at the T, and we're proud to join Keolis, MassDOT and our neighbors in an effort to make a difference at the stations along the Fairmount Line," said General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. "These small acts of service help build pride in the system, and it is my hope that it sends a signal about how committed we are to serving the communities who rely on us."

"At Keolis, our commitment to a green future is part of our DNA," said Keolis Commuter Services General Manager Abdellah Chajai. "I want to thank the Fairmount Community for hosting us and the MBTA and MassDOT for partnering with us to celebrate Earth Day with these cleanup events."

For the past two years, the Earth Day cleanup mobilized over 40 employee volunteers to collect bags of trash. Last year, the cleanup took place along the Red Line's Ashmont, Davis, and Alewife stations. Today's effort builds on that success with a new focus on the Fairmount Line and continued dedication to service-area equity and environmental justice.

The MBTA is proud to observe Earth Day 2025 by celebrating its role in making the transportation sector more sustainable each and every day. Transit is essential to the region's environmental, social and economic sustainability. Our services connect people to opportunity, help ease traffic congestion and support healthy commutes and resilient communities.

In addition to station cleanups, the MBTA has distributed 280 slips of seed paper cut in the shape of a transit bus at elementary schools across the Greater Boston region. When planted, the seed paper will grow into flowers. Local schools are encouraged to email publicengagement@mbta.com if they have interest in seed paper for students.

The MBTA also thanks its riders for doing their part; taking the bus, subway, commuter rail, ferry or paratransit helps take cars off the road, reducing traffic congestion and conserving fuel. Each trip on the MBTA generates around a third less harmful emissions than someone driving the same distance alone. Every additional rider helps reduce that impact even more and deepens the sustainability of our service. The more passengers that are riding a bus or train, the lower the emissions per mile.

Sustainability is a core value at the MBTA, and our Strategic Plan includes a goal to increase the resilience and sustainability of the transit system, as well as a goal to attract new riders, retain existing riders, and increase the percentage of transit trips in the region. In September 2024, the MBTA released its Climate Assessment, taking stock of commitments, progress to date and identifying next steps to advance sustainability. Learn more about our sustainability and resilience work.