MBTA's Orange Line shutdown will have regional impact for drivers, bikers, walkers and subway riders
BOSTON - Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is asking everyone to "be patient" with the MBTA's unprecedented move to shut down the Orange Line for a month for repairs starting Friday because it will affect everyone in the Boston area.
Baker, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak, MassDOT Undersecretary Scott Bosworth and Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver held a news conference at the state transportation building in Boston Monday to warn the public to pay attention to the changes.
The shutdown of the entire Orange Line will start at 9 p.m. Friday, August 19 for upgrades and repairs. It will last until September 19. The move will not only affect subway riders, it's also expected to have a huge impact on the Boston area for everyone who drives, bikes or walks because of the added traffic with numerous shuttle buses covering the closed subway routes.
"We all know that this diversion will be inconvenient for riders and we ask people to be patient for the next 30 days as the T does five years worth of work over that period of time," Baker said.
"The plan is to ensure that every rider will have clear information on how they can get around the system. But it will also cause regional travel impacts for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians as DOT and especially the city of Boston make roadway changes to accommodate these buses."
"We're asking everybody, all travelers, to adjust their commutes if necessary and if they can, and we urge everyone to be careful and cautious," the governor told reporters.
The MBTA released a guide for riders last Friday giving them alternative travel options for the 20 Orange Line stations that will be affected by the shutdown.
"We are committed to working with our municipal partners as well as our state level partners to provide our riders with alternative travel options during these disruptions. We'd also ask that our friends in the business community work with us to make sure that their employees understand these options in part by distributing this guide to their employees," Poftak told reporters.
"We'll also be doing a number of outreach events in the coming week to make sure that as many people as possible understand what their options are. We're also asking our friends in the business community to show understanding to their employees about some of the transportation challenges their employees are facing and to be flexible about allowing work from home options where feasible."
"It is evident that the shutdown will produce significant congestion that will be felt throughout the region," Gulliver said.
"All roadway users, whether you drive, bike or walk, you will see changes in your everyday commute and your commute will likely be longer in these areas. Roadway capacity along the diversion route will be effectively cut in half in some areas. This means that traffic congestion will grow throughout the area and be evident on interstates, numbered routes, and connected local roadways."
According to MassDOT data from July, 63,346 people ride the Orange Line every day.
Taxi driver Castel St. Jean dreads the new rules. He said the lanes that crews painted to say "bus only" on the far right side of Boylston Street will cause problems.
"It's going to be big, big trouble," he said. "It's going to be one lane. Traffic is going to be backed up."
Commuters say they can't win.
"Getting around really stinks," Claire McGrath said.
Bryan Almeida said even walking through Boston will be a challenge.
"It's awful right now, and it's only going to be much worse," he said.
The MBTA is also closing the recently opened Green Line Extension from Government Center to Union Square in Somerville between August 22 and September 18. The T said it's necessary so work can continue on the Government Center garage demolition and so they can facilitate work on the Medford branch.
The planned opening of the Green Line Extension's Medford branch has been pushed back from late summer to late November of this year because more work is needed, including testing of the power systems.
