The Red Line will be closed between Alewife and Park Street for 10 days in late July.
Boston is currently teeming with visitors in town for the World Cup, who are making frequent use of the city’s transit infrastructure. But any major crowds left in Boston later this summer will have to contend with some big MBTA closures.
The Red Line will be closed between Alewife and Park Street stations for 10 straight days, from July 21 through July 30, officials announced. Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line service along this stretch, and an express shuttle will be available to move riders directly from Harvard Square to South Station and back. The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Porter Sqaure and North Station.
Riders are also being urged to use the 69, 87, 88, 89, 91, and 109 buses to connect to the Green Line while this portion of the Red Line is being worked on. Accessible vans will be available only on weekdays between Alewife and Park Street. Riders can request this service from station staff.
Officials are urging riders to budget more time for their commutes if they are planning on taking the Red Line shuttles. They suggested that a ride from Alewife to Park Street may take 70 minutes or more.
The Red Line is being closed for “essential infrastructure upgrades, track renewal, and other critical revitalization work,” the MBTA said. This includes the replacement of giant concrete slabs that support rails.
Other disruptions are coming to the Needham Commuter Rail line as part of the ongoing efforts to replace the West Roxbury Parkway Bridge.
Needham Line service will be suspended between Needham Heights and South Station, beginning at about 11 p.m. on July 24 and continuing through July 26.
No shuttle service is being offered for this closure. Riders are being encouraged to use the 35, 36, and 37 buses between West Roxbury and Forest Hills to connect to the Orange Line. The 59 bus can also be used to connect to the Green Line.
To facilitate accessibility improvements along the C Branch of the Green Line, trains are bypassing certain stops. Outbound trains will not stop at Englewood Avenue or Tappan Street until July 11. From July 13 through July 31, inbound Green Line trains will not stop at Summit Avenue.
Symphony station remains closed for major renovations that will not be completed until 2029.
Details on all the expected closures can be found online at the MBTA website.
Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.
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