REMINDER: By Prioritizing Investments in the Green Line Modernization Program, MBTA Continues to Make Significant Improvements in Reliability, Accessibility, and More

Major construction taking place September 26 – October 4

As the MBTA continues to make significant improvements in its service and infrastructure, the MBTA is today reminding riders about construction work that is critical to ensuring the long-term reliability of the line. The necessary work to replace and upgrade the 120-year-old signal system within the central tunnel will take place during nine consecutive days of 24/7 access to portions of the Green Line from September 26 through October 4, which allows the MBTA to expedite these long-awaited upgrades in the most cost-efficient manner possible.

More About The Work

At over 100 years old, the MBTA’s Green Line legacy signal system is as old as the tunnel itself – the old signals currently in use are the same signals that were used when the first electric trolleys in North America were put into service in the late 1800s. This signal system is ready to be replaced with the upgraded, modern technology of today.

The upcoming construction work beginning on September 26 is part of the MBTA’s phased approach to accomplishing these signal upgrades and builds upon previous work that has taken place this year. The age of the MBTA’s signals and the scale of replacing the entire system within the central tunnel makes the project significant, and previous administrations had deferred this work due to its challenging complexities. With a commitment to accomplishing long-awaited upgrades that riders deserve, the MBTA is no longer deferring these critical investments. It was determined that the best way to accomplish the Green Line’s signal modernization on an accelerated timeline is the phased approach: several diversions in service in which the MBTA could maximize each outage by performing as much other piggybacking work as possible.

When the project is complete, the new signal system will provide the MBTA Operations team with improved train detection, better train congestion management, and more consistent train spacing, which provide the foundation for improved service frequency. These operational upgrades also mean more reliable service for riders with fewer unplanned disruptions and emergency repairs caused by the older, aging signal system.

Compatible with the upcoming fleet of new Type 10 Green Line cars, these signal upgrades also help prepare the MBTA for future generations of riders.

The unencumbered access to the Green Line track area allows the MBTA to accomplish many other piggybacking projects. This work includes the following:

• Crews are continuing the critical station upgrade work at Symphony as well as replacing ties and ballast in the track area of the station. 
   
• With the new fleet of Type 10 cars soon arriving, crews will perform modifications to curbs and platform edges at stations to provide clearance for the new larger vehicles.  
   
• Crews will upgrade radio infrastructure throughout the diversion area and begin the installation of new radio system cable within the E Branch tunnel area. 
   
• Crews will relocate the electric overheard catenary wires, which power Green Line cars, at complicated sharp curve area in order to accommodate both existing vehicles and the new Type 10 fleet. 
   
• Power maintenance crews will inspect and repair power cables and underground access boxes, and clean or replace switchboxes. 
   
• At Park Street, workers will perform full-depth reconstruction of the eastbound track and rebuild the pedestrian crossing.
   
• Station brightening, critical maintenance, and repair work will take place at all stations between Kenmore Station and North Station, including painting, assorted repairs, HVAC maintenance, and inspections.

Other Recent Major Accessibility Accomplishments on Green Line

The MBTA has made major progress in upgrading the accessibility of the Green Line this year. The Green Line C Branch Station Accessibility Improvements project is in the process of making accessibility improvements at seven inaccessible above-ground stations on the C Branch along Beacon Street in the Town of Brookline: Englewood Avenue, Dean Road, Tappan Street, the consolidated Fairbanks Street/Brandon Hall station, Summit Avenue, Saint Paul Street, and Hawes Street.  

As part of the first phase of the project, the seven stations are being upgraded with 8” platforms in order to be ADA-compliant and accessible with the current fleet of MBTA Green Line vehicles. When complete, all stations along the C branch will be accessible.  

Since the beginning of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the MBTA has made great strides in coordinating construction and maintenance activities so that, when planned service outages to conduct major construction are necessary, the MBTA accomplishes as much work as possible. This approach minimizes service disruptions for riders and reduces the cost of replacement shuttle bus service. The work to upgrade each of the seven C branch stations was planned in conjunction with other critical Green Line work like the central tunnel signal upgrades, which allowed the MBTA to make improvements on a faster, accelerated timeline that has saved the T millions of dollars in redundant service outage costs associated with coordinating shuttle buses, personnel, equipment, and construction support.

For the remaining C branch accessibility work during this first phase, the MBTA is limiting the number of stations bypassed at any one time, generally to no more than two platforms. The C branch has the advantage of relatively closely-spaced stations, so riders typically have a nearby alternative about a quarter of a mile or so away when a platform is temporarily bypassed.

With safety and the accessibility of the system of critical importance to the MBTA, the project has been thoughtfully and intentionally planned in two phases in order to bring accessibility upgrades to riders immediately, including a variety of new station amenities like upgraded lighting, wider waiting areas, and upgraded street crossing for pedestrians. A future second phase of the project will take place as the MBTA standardizes its Green Line fleet with a exclusively Type 10 vehicles. At that time, the MBTA will make plans to raise the platform an additional six inches to achieve a 14” platform height for level-boarding of the Type 10s.  

The MBTA is unable to raise the platform to these heights now due to the bi-fold doors of the current Green Line vehicle fleet, which would make contact with a 14” platform and not be able to open. Importantly, the MBTA has prioritized delivering safety and accessibility improvements now before the complete retirement of the current fleet of vehicles to give riders the safe, modern, accessible station experience they deserve.

When the second phase is implemented, the existing platforms will have approximately six inches of height added to the existing platform structure with 6” slabs. The future work will be substantially simpler and less disruptive than constructing the platforms from scratch, and this approach allows the MBTA to improve safety and accessibility now while preserving a practical path to the ultimate platform configuration as the Green Line fleet evolves.

Alternate Travel Options, September 26 – October 4

Riders can find complete information at MBTA.com/GreenLine.  

• B Branch: Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate between Babcock Street and Back Bay. 
     
  • Riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay for continued service through downtown toward North Station.    
     
  • There will be free fares at Kenmore with the fare gates open. Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Kenmore. 
     
  • Route 57 bus service will be fare-free during this service change.   
     
• C Branch: Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate between Kenmore and Back Bay.     
   
  • Riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay for continued service through downtown toward North Station.     
     
  • There will be free fares at Kenmore with the fare gates open. Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Kenmore.   
     
• D Branch: Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate between Kenmore and Back Bay.     
   
  • Riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay for continued service through downtown toward North Station.     
     
  • There will be free fares at Kenmore and Riverside with the fare gates open. Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Kenmore.   
     
• E Branch: Route 39 will replace Green Line E Branch service between Heath Street and Back Bay. Extra buses will be added to the 39 to accommodate additional capacity. The route will be fare-free during this service change.   
   
• Riders using shuttle bus service should budget ample extra travel time. For example, a rider travelling to Park Street from Boston College should budget at least an additional 25 minutes of travel in additional to their regular commute. 
   
• All shuttle buses are accessible to riders with disabilities. Some of the buses used will be lift-equipped, coach-style buses. Accessible van service will be available for Green Line stops between Kenmore and North Station for those who prefer it. Riders should see station personnel or use a station call box to request this service.

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.

Significance of Multi-Day Outages

The MBTA is reminding riders that service outages such as these are a critical and necessary part of maintaining the infrastructure improvements that took place as part of the 2024 Track Improvement Program while also making further system upgrades and modernizing the MBTA’s infrastructure. This work cannot be performed during the overnight hours when the MBTA does not operate, and would be extremely inefficient and costly if planned during single weekend outages.  

Closing a section of the transit system for multiple days is the most efficient way to perform the MBTA’s routine maintenance, revitalization efforts, inspections, and upgrade work, and combines the efforts of multiple contractors and the MBTA workforce around the clock 24/7 to maximize productivity. This work is necessary and continuous to maintain the reliable service riders count on.

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