Local
MBTA to Close Green Line Tunnel and Branches for Nine Days, Permanently Shut Fairbanks Street Stop
The MBTA will suspend service on the entire Green Line tunnel between North Station and Kenmore, along with large stretches of the B, C, and E branches, from Nov. 7-15 for accessibility and signal work. The C branch's Fairbanks Street stop closes permanently on Saturday, consolidated into the upgraded Brandon Hall station.
The MBTA is launching another major Green Line disruption this weekend, closing the entire central tunnel between North Station and Kenmore for nine days while permanently shuttering one C branch stop as part of a multimillion-dollar effort to make aboveground stations accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The diversion runs from Saturday, Nov. 7, through Sunday, Nov. 15. During that period, the C branch will be suspended all the way to Cleveland Circle, the E branch will be suspended to Heath Street, and the B branch will be suspended between Kenmore and Babcock Street. The agency is also installing 17 miles of new cables as part of a broader project to replace the Green Line tunnel's Gilded Age-era signal system.
The T says it has no plans to conduct signal work on the Orange Line during this closure, a departure from the Halloween weekend diversion that drew sharp criticism from transit advocates after Orange Line riders faced long waits. "We think it's really important that shutdowns have good mitigation," Chris Friend, interim executive director of TransitMatters, told a reporter, adding that the group was "disappointed" because "that didn't seem to be the case" last weekend. An MBTA spokesperson said last weekend's Orange Line delays were worsened by several other issues, including an unplanned signal problem, a stuck train door, and a trespasser on the tracks.
Friday marks the final day of service at the Fairbanks Street stop on the C branch. The station closes permanently on Saturday and will be consolidated into the upgraded Brandon Hall stop, a three-minute walk down Beacon Street. The T also plans to close the Kent Street stop later this year. Officials say removing the two closely spaced stops could make C branch rides up to a minute faster.
The agency has published a guide to alternative transit options for the closure period, many of which will be free.