MBTA Shutting Down Part Of Red Line Service For Upgrades

BRAINTREE, MA — As the MBTA continues to work on problems discovered in a Federal Transportation Administration report, shuttle buses will replace service on the Braintree branch of the MBTA Red Line weeknights starting Monday night.

Regular subway service will end between JFK/UMass and Braintree at 8:45 p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays for two weeks between Aug. 1 and 4 and Aug. 8 through 11, the MBTA said.

To make up for the inconvenience, the MBTA is offering free accessible shuttle buses to make all stops between JFK/UMass and Braintree stations during the interruption.

By closing early each night, workers will be able to get an early start on replacement and track re-alignment that will allow the MBTA to remove speed restrictions along the Braintree branch, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said.

"As the MBTA continues to work with the FTA on safety enhancements, the track and maintenance work to take place during these evening Red Line diversions will continue to allow the T to build a better and safer system for all of its riders and employees," Poftak added.

Earlier this summer, the MBTA was ordered to take "immediate action" to "remedy safety concerns and improve the MBTA's safety culture" following the death of a Red Line passenger who was dragged for at least 100 feet before succumbing to his injuries.

Some of the "emergency safety issues" flagged by the FTA were that some MBTA employees were ordered to work 20-hour shifts with only four hours off in between them due to the recent staffing shortage.

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