BOSTON – A slew of service changes will be implemented on several subway and commuter rail lines in July to allow for the completion of “critical” work, the MBTA announced Thursday.
The service changes are now happening on three subway lines and four commuter rail lines, in addition to the traffic nightmare expected to be caused by the nearly two-month shutdown of the Sumner Tunnel starting on the 5 of July
CHANGES TO THE SUBWAY SERVICE
red line
Red Line service changes will allow MBTA crews to perform critical rail and tie replacement work that will ease speed restrictions:
Accessible shuttle bus service will replace overnight trains between JFK/UMass and North Quincy stations beginning at approximately 8:45 PM on July 11-13 and July 20. at approximately 20:45 on July 21 and during the weekend of July 22-23.
Green Line
Green Line service will undergo changes over the weekend of July 15-16 in order for crews to conduct comprehensive inspections of the Green Line tunnel’s structural, electrical, mechanical and fire, life and safety systems subsurface:
On the B branch, streetcar service is suspended between Boston University East and Haymarket stations. Accessible shuttle buses will provide service between Boston University East and Back Bay Station on the Orange Line to continue parallel service. On branch C, the tram service will be suspended between Saint Mary’s Street and Haymarket stations. Accessible shuttle buses will provide service between St. Mary’s Street and Back Bay Station on the Orange Line to continue parallel service. On the D branch, streetcar service will be suspended between Fenway and North stations. Accessible shuttle buses will provide service between Brookline Hills and Back Bay Station on the Orange Line to continue parallel service. On the E branch, the tram service will be suspended between Heath Street and Northern stations. Instead, riders are encouraged to use the Route 39 bus service.
As previously announced, accessible shuttle bus service will replace the entire Green Line B branch between Kenmore and Boston College stations for 12 days from July 17-28.
This service change will allow crews to complete critical track upgrades and additional work on Branch B, including more than 2,000 feet of full-depth track replacement at Packard’s Corner and between Harvard Avenue and Allston Street ; the replacement of conduit banks and underground conduits that provide power to trains; and the repainting of pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and platform edges along Ram B.
Green Line train service between Lechmere and Union Square stations will also be suspended for 42 days from July 18 to August 28.
This service change is due to critical repair work by MassDOT on the Squire Bridge, which crosses the tracks near Union Square Station. Alternative travel options include the following:
Commuters heading from Union Square Station can use Route 86 (Boarding at Somerville Ave. opp Stone Ave. and getting off at Washington St. to New Washington St.) and Route 91 (Boarding at Prospect St . to Bennett Ct. and down to Washington). St. at New Washington St.) bus service from Union Square to the East Somerville station areas to continue service on the Medford/Tufts branch. Riders heading to Union Square Station can board the Medford/Tufts Branch service to East Somerville Station and then use Route 86 and 91 Bus Service (boarding at Washington St. at Tufts St. and down Somerville Ave. to Stone Ave.) to the Union Square area. Riders can also use the Route 87 bus service by getting on at the Lechmere Station and getting off at the Union Square Area on Somerville Ave. on Stone Ave.
Green and orange lines
Due to the ongoing demolition of the Government Center Garage by private developer HYM Construction, Orange and Green Line service changes will be made in the downtown Boston area for 12 days from July 29th to July 9th August:
Orange Line trains will avoid Haymarket station. Orange Line riders should exit at North or State Station, which are less than half a mile from Haymarket (or a four- to eight-minute walk) and travel to the Haymarket area. Green Line service will be suspended between North Station. and Government Center Station with riders instead asked to walk above ground between these stations – Government Centre, Haymarket Station and Northern Station are each less than half mile from each other (about a five to 10 minute walk) and the distance between Government Center to North Station is about three quarters of a mile (about a 13 minute walk). Riders are also reminded that connections between the Orange Line and the Green Line can also be made via the Winter Street Concourse, which connects Park Street and Downtown Crossing. seasons Accessibility vans will also be available for on-demand transportation: Orange and Green Line riders should ask MBTA staff for information and assistance.
CHANGES IN THE RAILROAD SERVICE
Kingston, Middleborough and Greenbush Lines (run alongside the Red Line)
The accessible shuttle bus service will replace weekday night trains between South Station and Braintree after 7.30pm on July 10-14 and July 17-21 and over the weekend of July 22-23. Accessible express shuttle bus service will also operate directly between the south. Braintree Station and Station. Passengers should note that bicycles are not permitted on shuttle buses and regular commuter rail fares will be charged between Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush and Braintree stations. Keolis customer service agents, MBTA staff and transit ambassadors will be on site at affected stations to support riders. The diversion program will be available online soon at mbta.com/CommuterRail.
Framingham/Worcester lines
Weekend trains will be replaced by an accessible shuttle bus service between Worcester and Grafton stations from 29-30 July. This service change is made to accommodate construction as part of the Worcester Union Station Improvement Project.
“The MBTA apologizes for the inconvenience caused by these scheduled service changes and appreciates riders’ understanding and patience as this critical and necessary work is done to maintain, update and modernize the system,” said the T in a press release.
Service changes in June affected the Red, Green, Orange, Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth, Middleborough/Lakeville, Lowell and Fairmount lines.
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