Local News
The changes to service will impact the Blue, Orange, Lowell, and Fitchburg lines.
MBTA commuters on the Blue, Orange, Lowell, and Fitchburg lines can expect disruptions to regular service in August, the transit agency announced Monday.
The changes to service will occur to move forward signal, track, and bridge work on the four lines, the MBTA said in a statement.
“The MBTA understands how these service changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period, but we are committed to improving your travels long term with more reliable, timely, and safe service,” the transit agency said. “We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system.”
Below, what to know about the service disruptions.
Orange Line
The MBTA will perform signal upgrade work on the Orange Line during three weekends in August, which the transit agency said will “significantly increase operational efficiency and improve scheduling reliability for riders.”
During the work, rail service will be suspended between the Wellington and Back Bay stations, with free shuttle buses operating during the disruption. The MBTA will also run express shuttle buses between Wellington and North Station.
The service will be suspended August 2 – 3, August 9 – 10, and August 23 – 24.
The MBTA is urging commuters heading through downtown to use the Green Line for service between North Station and Copley. Service will be increased on the Green Line during the Orange Line disruptions, the MBTA said. Riders can also use fare-free service on the Commuter Rail between Oak Grove and North Station and between Forest Hills and South Station.
Blue Line
In August, the MBTA said, work will continue on the Blue Line to rebuild and “ensure that additional sections of track are improved to the same state of good repair standards that support reliable and robust service.”
Last week, hundreds of Blue Line riders got stuck under Boston Harbor after a decades-old cable fell inside the subway tunnel. Officials said it was an example of the importance of proactive investment in T infrastructure.
The MBTA said the work in August on the Blue Line will be focused on infrastructure upgrades, “heavy track renewal,” and other “critical revitalization work.”
“Building on the success of the Track Improvement Program, this regular, planned renewal and revitalization work is ongoing and continuous, ensuring the long-term stability of our infrastructure and preserving the system for future generations of riders,” the MBTA said.
For the work, subway service will be suspended between the Airport and Wonderland stations for nine days, from Aug. 9 to 17. During that time, shuttle buses will make all stops between the two stations.
The MBTA is urging riders to prepare for the disruptions by allowing “ample extra travel time.”
“For example, a rider traveling to Government Center from Wonderland should budget at least an additional 20 – 30 minutes of travel time in addition to their regular commute,” the MBTA said. “Riders using regular Blue Line train service between Bowdoin and Airport should also budget extra travel time. The time between each weekday train will be approximately 10 minutes, which is about double what it is typically.”
Lowell Commuter Rail Line
A project to replace the High Line Bridge in Somerville will be the cause of disruptions to the Lowell Commuter Rail Line in August, the MBTA announced. Work on the bridge, which carries the train line over High Line access road and railroad yard in Somerville between North Station and West Medford, will bring the structure into “ into a state of good repair; reduce future maintenance costs; and reduce unplanned service impacts and delays,” the MBTA said.
During the work, rail service on the line will be suspended between North Station and Lowell, with free shuttle buses running instead. Shuttle buses will not stop at Winchester Circle.
The service disruptions will occur on two weekends: Aug. 15 (starting at 10 p.m.) through August 17 and Aug. 22 (starting at 10 p.m.) through Aug. 24.
Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line
The MBTA said in August it is working to replace the signal system that controls the movement of MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak trains in and out of North Station. A “new, state-of-the-art microprocessor system that requires less maintenance and reduces failures and train delays” will take its place, the transit agency said.
To allow for the work, service will be suspended on the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line btween North Station and Porter Square during two weeks next month: Aug. 16 to 17 and Aug. 23 to 24.
During the disruption, the MBTA said passengers can use the Red and Green lines to travel between Porter Square and North Station, connecting at Park Street.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
