Upcoming suspensions of MBTA’s Blue Line service allows crews to accelerate infrastructure improvements

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Blue Line service will be suspended April 5-May 8 between Airport and Bowdoin Stations to accommodate harbor tunnel repair work; alternate shuttle bus and ferry services will be provided.  

Between May 12 and May 29, Blue Line service will be suspended between Wonderland and Orient Heights Stations to allow for work to take place on the Suffolk Downs pedestrian bridge with alternate shuttle bus service provided. 

“The work accomplished during these closures will ultimately lead to better, safer, more reliable service for our Blue Line riders on a faster timeline,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “We know these diversions can be an inconvenience, but these service suspensions allow us to expedite critical tunnel and infrastructure work. I want to thank our Blue Line riders for their patience while we accelerate these important projects.” 

More about the April 25-May 8 diversion between Airport and Bowdoin 

Free bus shuttles will replace Blue Line service between Airport and Bowdoin all day and every day between April 25 and May 8 to accommodate harbor tunnel repair work. Shuttle buses will operate in a one-way inbound loop through the downtown area. Shuttle buses will not stop at Bowdoin with Bowdoin riders instead asked to board and exit shuttles at Government Center Station. The shuttle bus stop at State station is drop-off only. Express bus shuttles will not stop at Maverick station. 

Alternate ferry services will also be available from Lewis Mall near Maverick Station to Long Wharf operating approximately every 20 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Riders should show their CharlieCard or CharlieTicket to boat crews for entry.  

During this Blue Line service suspension, crews will accelerate necessary track replacement work and other infrastructure improvements. The scope of work includes a $5 million investment in the replacement of 1,800 feet of full depth track. Other activities that will take place simultaneously include tunnel and drainage system inspections, sealing leaks, upgrading tunnel lighting, fiber optic cable installation, the removal of abandoned cable and signal repairs, all totaling approximately $2 million.  

This 14-day acceleration of work replaces approximately one year of performing the work during nights and weekends. It also significantly reduces the costs associated with contractor crews mobilizing and demobilizing each night and each weekend, and costs for shuttle buses and transit operational support. The MBTA says the estimated savings for performing this work in 14 days instead of during evening and weekend diversions over the course of one year is approximately $2-3 million. 

More about the May 12-29 diversion between Wonderland and Orient Heights 

Free bus shuttles will replace Blue Line service between Wonderland and Orient Heights Stations all day and every day between May 12 and May 29 to accommodate critical repair work on the pedestrian bridge at Suffolk Downs Station. 

Ridership on the Blue Line is nearly 40 percent below what it was before the pandemic. In addition to community group briefings last month, the MBTA continues to communicate public information about this important work. The MBTA is being proactive in completing these reliability and resiliency improvements ahead of this summer’s planned shutdown of the Sumner Tunnel.