MBTA to Continue Track Improvement Work Across System in May
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced service changes to take place on multiple lines throughout the month of May in order to prioritize work that will enhance service reliability on the system overall.
In the coming weeks, service changes are slated for the Blue, Red, Orange, Green, and Silver lines, as well as the Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth, Middleborough/Lakeville, Rockport, and Haverhill lines, a release said. The service changes will also allow for work to alleviate speed restrictions in certain areas.
On April 24-27 and May 1-4, Blue Line evening weekday train service between Government Center and Wonderland Stations will be replaced by accessible shuttle buses. This change in service will allow MBTA crews to continue track work on the Blue Line, which will reduce speed restrictions. Crews will replace nearly 2,000 feet of rail, 450 ties, and more than 3,000 feet of tamping.
According to the MBTA, May service changes on the Red Line will continue to focus on track work. During the weekend of May 6-7, accessible shuttle buses will replace regular train service between Park Street and JFK/UMass Stations. This service change will allow MBTA crews to continue performing critical rail and tie replacement work in this area, alleviating speed restrictions. Approximately 1,000 feet of rail will be replaced by crews.
Beginning May 8-12, May 15-19, May 22-25, and May 30-31, accessible shuttle bus service will replace evening weekday train service between JFK/UMass and Braintree Stations. This service change will allow MBTA crews to replace critical rail and tie on the Braintree Branch, removing speed restrictions. Crews will replace approximately 5,000 feet of rail, close to 2,000 ties, and perform more than 11,000 feet of tamping.
During the weekends of May 13-14 and May 20-21, accessible shuttle buses will replace regular weekend Ashmont and Braintree branch train service between Broadway and Ashmont and Broadway and Braintree Stations. This service change will allow MBTA crews to work on the Ashmont branch’s Savin Hill Bridge as well as continue rail and tie replacement work on the Braintree branch. More than 2,300 feet of rail will be replaced, as will approximately 840 ties and 3,000 feet of tamping.
The Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth, and Middleborough/Lakeville Commuter Rail Lines, which run alongside the Red Line, will also see service changes on May 13-14 and May 20-21.
Regular weekend train service between Braintree and South Stations will be replaced by shuttle buses on May 13-14.
Beginning on May 5 and lasting through the weekend of May 6-7, Silver Line Routes 1, 2, and 3 will be rerouted to the street level around Courthouse Station. This service change will enable Courthouse improvements to be made, a release said.
Due to ongoing demolition work at the Government Center Garage by private developer HYM Construction, Orange and Green Line service changes will occur in the downtown Boston area on May 13-14 and May 20-21. Trains on the Orange Line will bypass Haymarket Station.
The Green Line service will be altered over the weekend of May 27-28. Trains on the B Branch will bypass Kenmore Station. Accessible shuttle buses will replace regular trolley service between Cleveland Circle and Copley Stations on the C Branch. Accessible shuttle bus service will replace regular trolley service between Fenway and Copley Stations on the D Branch. Crews will be able to perform track work in various locations along the Green Line as a result of these service changes. Crews will replace over 450 feet of rail, more than 150 ties, and approximately 350 feet of tamping.
Rockport Commuter Rail Line service changes will take place in May to support rock cutting efforts as well as Gloucester Drawbridge work. From April 22 to May 15, regular train service will be replaced by accessible shuttle bus service between West Gloucester and Rockport Stations.
For 16 days from April 22 to May 7, Haverhill Commuter Rail Line trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between Haverhill and Reading Stations to perform Automatic Train Control work.
During all scheduled service changes, signage will be in place to direct riders to shuttle bus stops. Additional MBTA employees and Transit Ambassadors will be on hand to assist commuters.
