MBTA to shut down sections of subway for extended periods in speed improvements initiative
The MBTA is planning to periodically shut down parts of the subway system for days or weeks at a time in hopes of eliminating all current speed restrictions by the end of 2024, General Manager Phil Eng announced Thursday.
The track improvement plan will affect all four subway lines and features roughly 20 multi-day diversions on specific sections of track. The goal is to lift 191 speed restrictions, replace 140,680 feet of rail, and shave a total of 86 minutes of travel time systemwide by the end of next year.
The new plan builds on the success of previous diversions, including a recent 16-day shutdown of the Red Line’s Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line, which lifted slow zones and resulted in faster travel times for riders.
The Green Line is set to be the first to experience a nine-day closure starting on Nov. 27. The MBTA is planning shutdowns on the Green Line’s D Branch from Riverside to Kenmore from December 11 to December 20.
The MBTA has promised to offer shuttle buses and the Orange Line as alternative transportation for displaced riders.
Looking ahead at 2024, some of the planned shutdowns are expected to take only a few days, while others could last several weeks. According to Assistant General Manager of Engineering and Capital Sam Zhou, flexibility is baked into the MBTA’s plan, with the aim to avoid major holidays and events and also taking major Massachusetts Department of Transportation projects into consideration.
Public transportation advocacy group TransitMatters and the organization Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) both stressed the importance of communication and transparency in the MBTA’s plans. The groups applauded the planned shutdowns if replacement service is seamless and if the disruptions can be minimized.
The MBTA claims that the extended shutdowns will give crews a chance to work more efficiently and get more work done, leading to long-term wins. Although many commuters might see this as a short-term inconvenience, it is perceived as a necessary step to improve overall train travel quality and efficiency.
What do you think about the MBTA plans to incrementally shut down stretches of the subway for repairs?