The MBTA will shut down key sections of the Orange Line and part of the Green Line for a collective period of more than a week in October to perform maintenance work and continue the installation of a long-awaited safety system, authorities said.
The Green Line will not run between North Station and Union Square or Medford/Tufts from roughly 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, through the rest of that weekend. The line will then shut down between Kenmore and Riverside from roughly 8 p.m. on Oct. 24 through the end of the day on Oct. 31.
MBTA officials said the pause in service will allow them to continue installing infrastructure for the Green Line Train Protection System, which is designed to avoid train-on-train collisions and prevent speeding.
Orange Line shutdown
On the Orange Line, the T will suspend subway service between North Station and Forest Hills from Saturday, Oct. 11, through Monday, Oct. 13. The shutdown will allow the T to upgrade Orange Line signals, an essential piece of the system’s infrastructure that controls how trains move down the tracks.
For all three shutdown periods, the MBTA said it would run free and accessible shuttle bus service in place of trains between most of the affected stations.
Green Line shutdown
During the Green Line shutdowns, shuttle buses will ferry riders between North Station and Medford/Tufts, but will not travel to Union Square. The T will offer local and express shuttle bus routes between Riverside and Kenmore. Information on how to connect to Union Square via public bus can be found on the MBTA’s website, along with further details on the shuttle bus routes.
How to get where you’re going during the shutdowns
During the Orange Line shutdown, shuttle buses will travel between Forest Hills and Back Bay, and will also connect to Copley on the Green Line.
Shuttles will not travel through Downtown Boston between Back Bay and North Station. Instead, Orange Line riders hoping to reach downtown stations should take the parallel Green Line, which will run with increased frequency.
Riders can also take the commuter rail for free between Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay and South Station during the closure.
Transit officials cautioned riders to add additional time to their commutes if taking the shuttle buses. A ride to Government Center from Riverside, for example, may take an extra 30-45 minutes, they said. A ride to Downtown Crossing from Forest Hills may take an additional 30 minutes beyond the regular commute.
Further details on the shutdowns and alternate service, including transportation via accessible vans, can be found on the MBTA’s website.
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