Live updates: Gov. Baker to ride rails for 2nd straight day amid Orange Line shutdown

BOSTON — The shutdown of the MBTA Orange Line is getting its first-morning commute tests this week. The 30-day Orange Line shutdown began Friday night meaning commuters will have to try alternative routes such as the Commuter Rail, shuttle buses, driving, riding bicycles, or just walking to get to their jobs, appointments, or classes. Here’s some information to know immediately as you check in on how it’s going, with the threat of rain on Monday.

Click here for a Riders’ guide to navigating the Orange Line Shutdown.

Check out the Monday Morning forecast. Share videos/pictures of your commute here.

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022

12:30 p.m.: Gov. Charlie Baker will ride the Amtrak between Boston and Springfield on Tuesday, one day after riding a commuter rail train Monday as the MBTA’s Orange Line shutdown rolled on.

Baker is slated to speak at 3:30 p.m. at Springfield’s Union Station about efforts to offer passenger train service linking Springfield and Pittsfield with the eastern part of the state.

9:45 a.m.: As we head into the second work day with no Orange Line access the MBTA updated the city of the progress that has been made over the past three days.

“In 3 days, we completed 3 of our planned projects, replaced 2,400ft of rail, & eliminated a slow zone between State Street and Downtown Crossing with more improvements to come,” said MBTA officials.

7:30 a.m.: Earlier service disruptions on the Green Line B Branch and the Red Line have been resolved.

6:30 a.m.: Shuttle buses are replacing Green Line service between Boston College and Babcock Street due to a power problem.

There are also delays on the Red Line due to a train with an earlier mechanical problem approaching Alewife.

The entire Orange Line remains closed until Sept. 18, as well as Green Line service north of Government Center.

Monday, Aug. 22, 2022

4:35 p.m. MBTA Commissioner Steve Poftak said during a Monday afternoon press conference they are “optimistic” after the first work day commute went “smoothly.”

Poftak said despite Monday going smoothly, he did not want the message to be that it’s okay to drive to work Tuesday.

“Please continue to avoid these diversion routes. Also want to continue to emphasize the Commuter Rail as an alternative travel option for all for Orange Line riders,” Poftak said. “I anticipate we’ll face some challenges and probably learn something about where there’s going to be traffic issues and holdups, and we’ll get better as we go.”

2:20 p.m. One of the MBTA’s replacement shuttle buses for the Orange Line was temporarily out of service Monday after colliding with a box truck in the Wellington traffic circle in Medford, an official from the MBTA told Boston 25.

8:45 a.m.: Boston Mayor Michell Wu on Monday boarded a southern Orange Line shuttle to the Green Line to City Hall.

In a tweet, Wu said, “Dedicated bus lanes are the BEST.”

Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne also boarded a Green and Orange Line shuttle in an effort to advocate for seamless integration of dedicated bus lanes from state to local roads.

8:30 a.m.: MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver warned motorists of additional traffic congestion on major roads and highways in the Boston area on Monday as people return to work for the first time without Orange Line service.

“The areas that we expected to be trouble spots are trouble spots...Wellington Circle, Leverett Circle, Sullivan Square are some of the big ones,” Gulliver said. “We are seeing some congestion on the usual hot spots on 93 and Route 1.”

All things considered, Gulliver said the morning commute has looked “pretty well,” but he warned of “higher volumes over the next couple of days.”

Gulliver urged drivers to be patient, careful, and to plan ahead if they have to be on the roads.

“Limit those discretionary trips...Be safe out there. Most importantly look for those extra pedestrians and cyclists,” Gulliver said.

Gulliver said the T is preparing for a major jump in congestion right after Labor Day.