The MBTA is announcing the suspension of Green Line C and D branch trolley service between several stations effective June 20 and until the end of service June 28 as essential infrastructure work is done as part of the MBTA’s $8 billion Building a Better T program. Effective June 20, the second of 2 full 9-day closures of service on the Green Line D branch will occur between Kenmore and Riverside Stations. Accelerated track and infrastructure work will occur during this time. In addition, there will be a 9-day shutdown of trolley service on the Green Line C branch between Kenmore and St. Mary’s Stations from June 20 through June 28 to allow for track and infrastructure work in the area known as the Beacon Junction. This is in addition to the upcoming month-long shuttle bus service replacement between Cleveland Circle and Kenmore Stations scheduled to take place in July 2020.
Shuttle buses will replace service between both St. Mary’s and Kenmore as well as between Riverside and Kenmore, with express shuttle buses also operating during weekday peak hours making stops at Riverside, Woodland, and Copley Stations only. “We appreciate our customers’ understanding as we accelerate this important work on the Green C and D Lines, which will lead to faster trips and more reliable service on both branches,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “Our primary focus continues to always be safety with our shuttle plan including measures that promote physical distancing and require face coverings. We understand that shuttle bus diversions can be inconvenient, but giving work crews unencumbered access to track areas allows this Green Line work to be finished over 5 months faster than previously planned.”
This suspension in Green Line C and D branch service is part of the MBTA’s $8 billion Building a Better T program to quicken the pace of infrastructure projects in 2020 and the MBTA continues to assess whether other projects can be further accelerated. Doing this work now allows its completion at a time when ridership on the Green Line is significantly decreased due to the pandemic. The MBTA recognizes that riders do continue to take essential trips as the Commonwealth moves through the first phase of its reopening plan. The MBTA’s shuttle plan includes measures to promote social distancing that protect MBTA riders and workers. The MBTA will carefully monitor ridership levels on shuttle buses, adjusting service levels if needed.
The D Branch Track and Signal Replacement project will replace approximately 6.5 miles of signal infrastructure, 25,000 feet of track, and centralize signal equipment at D branch stations. The project began in October 2018 with work taking place overnight and during weekend diversions. During these scheduled shutdowns in June, Green Line D branch work includes the replacement of nearly 21,500 feet of running rail, the replacement of over 2,800 feet of timber ties, the installation of state-of-the-art signal equipment, and the replacement of switches and 4 turnouts.
Green Line C branch work also taking place from June 20-28 includes reliability and safety improvements through track and signal work on the Beacon Junction area of track between St. Mary’s and Kenmore. This work requires concurrent diversions on the C and D branches. Originally scheduled to be accomplished later this year through evening and weekend diversions, these closures allow the MBTA to complete this work nearly 5 and a half months sooner than previously planned. These shutdowns also give other area projects the opportunity to advance work, including the MBTA’s Fenway Portal Project, the Town of Brookline’s Davis Footpath Project, and the Brookline High School Expansion Project.
During the first full 9-day closure on the Green Line D branch from June 6-14, crews replaced 10,800 feet of signal cables (which is 800 feet over the project’s overall goal), replaced 460 feet of track, performed special track work, repaired platform areas and yellow tactile edging, and performed additional upgrades to switches, catenary wire, and station areas.
—via Press Release