MBTA to shut down section of Red Line in October for ‘critical’ track work

BOSTON — A large portion of the Red Line will be shut down for over two weeks this fall as workers look to update one of the MBTA’s oldest segments of track.

The Red Line Ashmont Branch between the JFK/UMass and Ashmont Stations and the Mattapan Line between Ashmont and Mattapan Stations will be closed for 16 days from Saturday, October 14, through Sunday, October 29, the MBTA announced Thursday morning.

MBTA riders will be able to ride free shuttle buses covering the portion of the track undergoing repairs. The MBTA says the wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses will operate every 5-6 minutes during weekday peak hours and every 10-15 minutes during weekday and weekend off-peak hours.

Workers will replace rail, ties, and ballasts to improve the reliability of the track. According to the MBTA, the much-needed maintenance would take crews only working nights and weekends around six months to complete.

“Safety of the MBTA system is paramount, and this 16-day closure allows us to address many of the Red Line’s worst speed restrictions much faster than we’ve been able to accomplish during night and weekend work,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “We understand service changes can be frustrating, and I want to thank the public for their patience while we perform this critical and targeted work between JFK/UMass and Ashmont Stations and on the Mattapan Line.”

The MBTA will hold four open houses in September in which the riders will have an opportunity to ask the project team questions, learn about the details of the construction work, and voice their thoughts, comments, and concerns. The dates, times, and locations of the open houses will be published on the MBTA Public Meetings webpage.

Riders will also be able to find more information on this service change through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/alerts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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