MBTA to Shut Down Several Green Line Sections for 15 Days

Much of the MBTA Green Line service will be unavailable from Monday, Dec. 8, to Monday, Dec. 22, to accommodate accelerated infrastructure projects.

According to a BU Today news report, the B branch will close between North Station and Babcock Street. Free shuttle buses will replace trolley service between Babcock and Back Bay stations, where passengers can pick up Orange Line service. Trolleys on the B branch will continue as usual from Babcock Street west to Boston College.

The C and D branches will close between North Station and Kenmore, with shuttle buses stationed at Kenmore to serve C and D branch riders. The E branch will close from North Station to Heath Street, and the No. 39 bus will run with added service.

In addition to the free shuttle buses, travel on the 57 and 39 buses will be free during the project. The western portions of the B, C, and D Lines that are still operating during the closure will remain fare-free. Additionally, the Worcester Commuter Rail Line will be free only between the South Station, Back Bay, and the Lansdowne stops. 

The Green Line will operate normally from North Station north into Somerville and Medford.

According to BU Today, the multi-day closure will allow the T to replace the wooden trough in the tunnel that holds the overhead catenary wires powering the trolleys.

“That trough is 130 years old,” said Ryan Coholan, the T's chief operating officer. “It's one of the few things that keeps me up at night, and [the project] is going to bring that to a good state of repair.”

The closure will also permit the installation of the Green Line Train Protection System, as well as the continuation of track work, signal modernization, and station cleaning and repairs.