MBTA announces full nine-day Green Line D Branch diversions coming in June

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has announced two, full, nine-day closures of the Green Line D Branch between Kenmore and Riverside Stations during the month of June, allowing for accelerated track and infrastructure work.

During this accelerated work, shuttle buses will replace service between Riverside and Kenmore from June 6 through June 14 as well as from June 20 through June 28, each for nine consecutive days, including weekdays and weekends. During these closures, express shuttle buses will also operate during weekday peak hours making stops at Riverside, Woodland and Copley Stations only.

“Accelerating this necessary work is an important part of our strategy to rebuild track and signal infrastructure along the Green Line, leading to faster trips and more reliable service for D Branch customers,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “As always, our primary focus is on safety, especially during the initial phases of the commonwealth’s reopening plan. The MBTA’s bus shuttle service will include measures to limit capacity, promote physical distancing and require face coverings. We acknowledge that shuttle bus diversions can be an inconvenience, but these expanded work windows allow us to make much faster progress on critical track and signal infrastructure.”

This work comes as part of the MBTA’s plan to quicken the pace of infrastructure projects in 2020 and the MBTA continues to assess whether other projects can be further accelerated. Doing the work now allows its completion at a time when ridership on the Green Line is significantly decreased due to the pandemic. The MBTA says it recognizes that riders do continue to take essential trips as the commonwealth moves through the first phase of its reopening plan. The MBTA’s shuttle plan includes measures to promote social distancing that protect MBTA riders and workers. The MBTA says it will carefully monitor ridership levels on shuttle buses, adjusting service levels if needed.

The Green Line Transformation program is part of the MBTA’s $8 billion Building a Better T program to replace subway fleets, modernize stations and upgrade tracks, signals and switches. The MBTA launched its 2020 Infrastructure Acceleration Plan in February 2020 aimed at improving service, safety and reliability on faster timelines through temporary shutdowns and diversions in service. Previous accelerated work in 2020 includes work along the Blue Line, which is currently approaching the end of a 14-day shutdown from Bowdoin to Airport Stations in which track work, harbor tunnel repairs and additional infrastructure improvements were accomplished. The 2020 Plan will deliver projects eight years faster than originally planned, and will result in track replacement, upgraded intersections and station improvements. 

More information about the work

During the Green Line D Branch closures, GLT will accomplish major upgrades to the D Branch that improve safety through track and turnout upgrades, improve reliability by reducing signal issues and mitigate schedule impacts as a result of the COVID-19 situation.

Work to take place includes:

• The replacement of nearly 21,500 feet of running rail;
• The replacement of more than 2,800 feet of timber crossties;
• The installation of state-of-the-art signal equipment; and
• The replacement of switches and four turnouts.

These shutdowns also give other area projects the opportunity to complete major developments, including the MBTA’s Fenway Portal Project, the town of Brookline’s Davis Footpath Project and the Brookline High School Expansion Project.

The D Branch Track and Signal Replacement project will replace approximately 6.5 miles of signal infrastructure, 25,000 feet of track and centralize signal equipment at D Branch stations. The project began in October 2018 with work taking place overnight and during weekend diversions. This Green Line D Branch work now scheduled for June was previously planned to be accomplished later this year through evening and weekend diversions. Accomplishing this work now during these shutdowns will ultimately allow the project to be finished nearly five and a half months sooner.