BOSTON – The MBTA Orange Line stop has its morning ride tests this week. The 30-day Orange Line closure began Friday night, so commuters will have to try alternative routes like commuter rail, shuttle buses, driving, biking or simply walking to get to work. appointments or classes. Here’s some information to know right away as you check how it’s going, with the threat of rain on Monday.
Click here for a guide for riders to navigate the Orange Line shutdown.
Check the forecast for Monday morning. Share videos/pictures of your commute here.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
12:30 p.m.: Gov. Charlie Baker will ride Amtrak between Boston and Springfield on Tuesday, a day after riding a commuter train Monday while the MBTA’s Orange Line was closed.
Baker is scheduled to speak at 3:30 pm at Union Station in Springfield about efforts to provide passenger rail service linking Springfield and Pittsfield with the eastern part of the state.
9:45 a.m.: As we head into the second day of work without access to the Orange Line, the MBTA updated the city on the progress that has been made over the past three days.
“In 3 days, we completed 3 of our planned projects, replaced 2,400 feet of rail and eliminated a slow zone between State Street and Downtown Crossing with more improvements to come,” MBTA officials said.
7:30 a.m.: The previous service outages on the B branch of the Green Line and the Red Line have been resolved.
6:30 a.m.: Shuttle buses replace Green Line service between Boston College and Babcock Street due to an electrical issue.
Green Line B Branch: Shuttle buses replacing service between Boston College and Babcock St due to a power issue.
— MBTA (@MBTA) August 23, 2022
There are also delays on the Red Line due to a train with an earlier mechanical problem approaching Alewife.
Red Line: Delays of up to 15 minutes due to a train with a mechanical problem approaching Alewife. Trains can be asked to stay at stations.
— MBTA (@MBTA) August 23, 2022
Red Line Update: Delays of up to 15 minutes due to a train with an earlier mechanical issue approaching Alewife.
— MBTA (@MBTA) August 23, 2022
The entire Orange Line remains closed until September 18, as well as Green Line service north of the Government Center.
Monday, August 22, 2022
4:35 PM MBTA Commissioner Steve Poftak said during a press conference Monday afternoon that they are “optimistic” after the first day of work was “smooth.”
Poftak said that while Monday went smoothly, he didn’t want the message to be that it’s okay to drive to work on Tuesday.
“Please continue to avoid these detour routes. I also want to continue to emphasize commuter rail as an alternative travel option for all Orange Line users,” Poftak said. “I anticipate that we will face some challenges and probably learn something about where there will be traffic issues and hold-ups, and we will improve as we go along.”
2:20 pm One of the MBTA’s replacement shuttle buses for the Orange Line was temporarily out of service Monday after it collided with a box truck at the Wellington Roundabout in Medford, an MBTA official said in Boston 25.
8:45 a.m.: Boston Mayor Michell Wu boarded a shuttle from the Orange Line south to the Green Line to City Hall on Monday.
In a tweet, Wu said: “Dedicated bus lanes are the BEST.”
Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne also boarded a Green and Orange Line shuttle in an effort to advocate for the seamless integration of dedicated bus lanes from state to local highways.
Starting my morning with @MBTA Green and orange line. 1) Advocate for the seamless integration of dedicated bus lanes from state to local roads. pic.twitter.com/rY1Djea1o7
— Mayor Katjana Ballantyne (@katjballantyne) August 22, 2022
8:30 a.m.: MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver warned motorists Monday that there was additional traffic congestion on major roads and highways in the Boston area as people returned to work for first time without Orange line service.
“Areas that we expected to be trouble spots are trouble spots … Wellington Circle, Leverett Circle, Sullivan Square are some of the big ones,” Gulliver said. “We’re seeing some congestion at the usual hot spots on Route 93 and Route 1.”
All in all, Gulliver said morning travel has looked “pretty good” but warned of “higher volumes over the next few days.”
Gulliver urged drivers to be patient, cautious and plan ahead if they have to be on the roads.
“Limit those discretionary trips … Be safe out there. The most important thing is to look for those extra pedestrians and cyclists,” Gulliver said.
Gulliver said the T is bracing for a major spike in congestion right after Labor Day.
7:35 AM: Stacy Thompson, executive director of LivableStreets, talks to Boston 25 about what we’ve learned so far.
07:10: Videographer Andy Devine is on board a shuttle bus carrying commuters from Wellington Station to Government Centre.
6:33 a.m. Kelly Sullivan checks in with a passenger at the Oak Grove station in Malden who is getting ready for a ride.
6:02 am: Boston 25’s John Monahan checks in from the Orange Line shuttle bus stop at Copley Square.
6:01 am: Latest traffic update from Boston 25’s Catherine Parrotta.
Boston 25 Meteorologist Jason Brewer has live updates on the morning commute weather every 10 minutes on the Boston 25 Morning News.
5:41 am: Boston 25’s Kelly Sullivan is live at the Oak Grove station where the shuttle buses are ready to roll
Our Jason Brewer will have live updates on Boston weather and travel forecasts on the 25th at 11am. Check in with Jason before you leave.
The Orange Line travel plan will be put to the test on Monday with a significant increase in traffic expected.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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