Boston riders are in for a bumpy May as the MBTA rolls out a string of multi-day service shutdowns that will hit the Red, Green and Blue Lines, the Mattapan trolley and several commuter rail branches. The work windows are staggered across the month, with riders told to expect shuttle buses, free commuter rail options on some stretches and noticeably longer door-to-door trips. Transit officials say the short-term pain is supposed to wrap up signal, track and power upgrades that will make service more reliable once everything is finally in place.
Green Line disruptions and shuttle details
The Green Line will be shut down between Kenmore and Cleveland Circle for 12 days, May 6–17, so crews can finish installing the Green Line Train Protection System. Free shuttle buses will replace trains but will skip Saint Mary’s Street, Kent Street and Brandon Hall. The MBTA says it will add service on the D branch, and notes that riders can walk about three minutes from Cleveland Circle to Reservoir to make a connection. Riders are urged to pad their schedules, with at least 15 extra minutes recommended for a trip from Cleveland Circle to Government Center. According to The Boston Globe.
Red Line testing and commuter-rail alternatives
Final testing of a new digital signal system will mean partial shutdowns on the Red Line’s Braintree and Ashmont branches in May. Service on the Braintree branch will be suspended between Broadway and Quincy Center on May 2–4, while the Ashmont branch will be out between Broadway and Ashmont starting at 6 p.m. on May 14 and running through May 18, with additional three-day outages set for May 29–31. Free shuttle buses will cover the gaps, and the MBTA is urging riders to use Commuter Rail between South Station and Braintree, which will be free during some of the suspensions. Riders are being warned to budget as much as 50 extra minutes of travel time. Per MBTA.
Blue Line, ferry backups and downtown impacts
The Blue Line will be closed between Bowdoin and Airport for the weekend of May 9–10 while crews do upgrade work. Shuttle buses will stop at Airport, Maverick and Haymarket but will not serve Aquarium, State, Government Center or Bowdoin. To soften the blow, the MBTA will run the East Boston ferry for free during that Blue Line outage, with roughly 30-minute sailings in the morning and 15-minute frequency for most of the day, plus an extra 9:30 p.m. trip. That mix of shuttles and ferry options creates alternatives, but it also means longer walks or extra transfers where buses skip stations. According to The Boston Globe.
Mattapan, Old Colony and Framingham/Worcester work
The Mattapan Line will not operate between Ashmont and Mattapan from 6 p.m. on May 14 through May 16 while power work is done at the MBTA’s Codman Yard in Dorchester. Shuttle buses will connect the closed stations, and riders are told to add about 15 minutes to their trips. Over the May 9–10 weekend, Old Colony commuter rail lines (New Bedford/Fall River, Greenbush and Kingston) will not run between South Station and Braintree, and Framingham/Worcester service will be suspended between Worcester and Grafton on the weekend of May 16–17, with free shuttle buses in place. The MBTA says these weekend outages let crews complete track, signal and power work that will support more reliable service after the projects wrap. Per MBTA.
How to plan your trip
On affected days, riders should assume their usual commute or weekend outing is going to take longer. Shuttle buses and reroutes can tack on anything from about 15 minutes to nearly an hour, depending on where you start and where you are headed. Travelers are urged to look at alternate options such as commuter rail, ferry service or surface buses, and to pay close attention to station signage and Transit Ambassadors at busy transfer points. For the full list of dates, maps and rider tips, see the City of Boston shutdown hub and the MBTA’s service pages. According to City of Boston.
