Local News
The closure is part of a multimillion-dollar effort to modernize the Green Line’s century-old infrastructure.
Green Line riders should prepare for service disruptions beginning Saturday as the MBTA shuts down the line’s central tunnel for nine days to upgrade its signal system and make other infrastructure improvements.
The service changes will take effect Nov. 7 and continue through Nov. 15, affecting all four Green Line branches and requiring commuters to use shuttle buses or alternative transit options.
The shutdown will suspend Green Line service between North Station and Kenmore on the D Branch. Service will also be suspended between Government Center and Babcock Street on the B Branch, Government Center and Cleveland Circle on the C Branch, and Heath Street and North Station on the E Branch.
What T riders should know about alternate travel options
Transit officials recommend that riders use the Orange Line between Back Bay and North Station, with free, accessible shuttle buses operating between Back Bay and affected Green Line branches.
On the E Branch, the Route 39 bus will replace Green Line service between Heath Street and Back Bay, according to the T. The route will be free during the service change, with additional buses added to accommodate riders. Route 57, which runs parallel to the B Branch between Kenmore and Packard’s Corner, will also be free.
The Worcester Commuter Rail Line will be free between South Station, Back Bay and Lansdowne during the shutdown, officials said. Accessible shuttle buses will be available, and riders who need additional assistance can request accessible van service between North Station and Kenmore, including Copley and Back Bay.
Due to the service disruption, the T recommends that riders give themselves extra travel time. Transit officials said a trip from Cleveland Circle to Park Street, for example, will take at least 25 minutes longer than usual via shuttle buses.
About the Green Line upgrades
The extended closure will let crews work on the Green Line’s signal modernization project, replacing a system that dates back to the early days of electric trolley service.
“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,” the T said in an announcement. “This signal system is ready to be replaced with the upgraded, modern technology of today.”
During the upcoming shutdown, crews will install about 16 miles of signal cable and one mile of fiber-optic cable, complete system connections and begin testing the modernized signals at key locations throughout the tunnel.
The MBTA said the upgrades will improve train detection, help manage congestion and allow for more consistent spacing between trains, laying the groundwork for more reliable and frequent service.
Crews will also improve accessibility along the C Branch, along with track, power, station security and other infrastructure work throughout the affected area, according to transit officials.
Fairbanks Street to permanently close on Nov. 7
The shutdown coincides with the permanent closure of the Green Line’s Fairbanks Street stop on the C Branch in Brookline. Beginning Saturday, trains will no longer stop there as the T consolidates the station with the upgraded Brandon Hall stop, which riders can access from the former Fairbanks Street location via a new accessible ramp and walkway.
The improvements at Brandon Hall include wider, raised platforms, sloped walkways, and better lighting, according to transit officials.
Riders can find additional information about service changes and alternative travel options at MBTA.com/GreenLine.
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