The significant and unprecedented work accomplished in 2024 as part of the Track Improvement Program eliminated hundreds of speed restrictions by replacing some of the oldest track infrastructure in the system. Among the upgrades on the Blue Line last year, over 6,400 ties and more than 17,800 feet of rail were replaced. The MBTA must continue this momentum and build upon last year’s success.
During this nine-day service outage, crews will upgrade the special track area at Orient Heights, replace thousands more ties, resurface tens of thousands of feet of track, and replace nearly a thousand more feet of rail as part of the essential infrastructure upgrades, heavy track renewal, and critical revitalization work. If these areas were left unattended, their condition would soon require more speed restrictions, negatively impacting the safety of the system and the commutes of thousands of Blue Line riders. Deferring this critical system maintenance work as has been done in past years is unacceptable – under the leadership of General Manager Phillip Eng, the MBTA is committed to an aggressive, proactive approach to maintaining, rebuilding, and improving every subway line to the same state of good repair standards that support reliable and robust service that riders deserve. This planned renewal work is essential as we undo years of disinvestment, ensuring the long-term stability of our infrastructure and allowing for regular and planned cyclical maintenance that will preserve the system for future generations of riders.
Riders can find complete information at mbta.com/BlueLine. More information on these service changes and alternate travel options is below: Free and accessible shuttle buses will make stops at all stations during this service change. Riders using shuttle buses should allow ample extra travel time. For example, a rider traveling to Government Center from Wonderland should allow at least an additional 20 – 30 minutes of travel time in addition to their regular commute.
Riders using regular Blue Line train service between Bowdoin and Airport should also allow extra travel time. The time between each weekday train will be approximately 8 minutes, which is about double what it is typically. More information is also available through in-station signage and public announcements. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA for up-to-date service information. For more information, please visit mbta.com/BlueLine or connect with the T on X @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta. |
