For Red Line riders on the Braintree and Ashmont routes, the work week began with difficulties on Monday as MBTA service was suspended for seven days.
Service between JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT will be suspended daily from Monday, August 19, through Sunday, August 25. The MBTA first announced the plans in July.
“The important work accomplished during this Red Line service interruption means riders will experience a more reliable ride with fewer unplanned service interruptions due to older tracks, older infrastructure, signaling issues or power problems,” the MBTA said in a statement.
How to get around when some Red Line trains aren’t running this week
During construction, the MBTA will provide free, accessible shuttle buses with stops between JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT. Park Street and Downtown Crossing are exempt from stops.
Accessible vans are also available for on-demand transportation. Passengers in need can contact MBTA staff for information and assistance.
Further travel recommendations are:
- Southbound passengers should instead exit at Otis Street at Summer Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
- Passengers traveling north should instead exit at Federal Street at Franklin Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park.
- Shuttle buses will also serve State (on the Orange and Blue Lines) and Haymarket (on the Orange and Green Lines), allowing easier connections to other subway lines.
MBTA fare information for affected Red Line stops
Free passes will be available at the JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT stations. Riders are encouraged to consider free commuter rail service between Braintree and South Station and between Porter and North Station.
What is all this for again?
According to the MBTA, the change in operations is intended to support work under the MBTA’s Track Improvement Program. The program will replace tracks and ties to ease speed restrictions along the line. At the same time, workers are making the most of the outage to perform signaling work and improvements to station facilities, including new lighting, painting, tiling, pressure washing and more.
“The MBTA understands how these service changes will impact riders’ daily trips during this time, but we are committed to improving your trips in the long term with more reliable, punctual and safer service,” the agency said. “We thank riders for their patience as we work through this important work and for continuing to use our system.”
Even greater disruptions on the Red Line are looming in September
The MBTA announced that service on the Red Line’s Braintree branch will be suspended for just over three weeks next month as track workers work on repairs to relax speed limits.
Major disruptions are on the way: Commuters in Quincy and Braintree are affected by the three-week closure of the MBTA Red Line
From September 6 to 29, Red Line trains will not serve North Quincy, Wollaston, Quincy Center, Quincy Adams, and Braintree stations.
How to find more information about the MBTA’s plans
According to the MBTA, additional information will be available through signage in stations and public announcements. Transit ambassadors and MBTA staff will be on site to offer information and assistance during service changes.
The agency also recommends that riders subscribe to “T-Alerts” or follow the MBTA on X (@MBTA) to receive up-to-date service information.
