MBTA Hosts Open House This Week to Discuss B Branch Closure and Upgrades

Photo: MBTA

BOSTON – MBTA will host an open house this week regarding a 12-day closure of its B Branch to allow for track work in July.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will hold an open house on June 28^th to discuss its plans to close the B Branch on its Green Line from Kenmore to Boston College stations. The closure will take place July 17^th to July 28^th to allow for track upgrades. This open house is open to the public.

While the B Branch is closed for the proposed 12 days, workers will replace track from Harvard Avenue to Allston Street and at Packard’s Corner Station. This includes over 2,000 feet of track. Packard’s Corner will also see duct bank work, repainted bike lanes, crossings, and platform edges, and a replacement of underground conduits that provide power to trains.

Phillip Eng, MBTA General Manager and CEO, stated his “commitment to the public” regarding safety and reliability, and that “the recent derailment is a stark reminder that we have work to do, and accelerating this work when schools are out is the best way to address a long-standing issue. This 12-day full access closure allow us to implement track renewal safely and most efficiently along Green Line’s B Branch, and most importantly, improve service.”

MBTA Chief of Capital Transformation, Angel Peña, commented that the closure will allow “crews to accomplish critical upgrades on an expedited schedule, delivering improved service that our riders deserve.”