Thursday, 4:30 PM
Track work to close portions of the MBTA’s Green Line this summer
By Mac Daniel, Globe Staff
Track work will shut down portions of one branch of the MBTA’s Green Line for 10 weeks this coming summer, forcing Red Sox fans who usually take the T to hop on buses to at least nine games, officials said Thursday.
T officials said they are prepared, with plans to run regular and express bus service to Fenway Park. "The primary focus is on the people who use the branch on a daily basis," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said Thursday night. "But we’re very cognizant of the fact that Red Sox fans use it as well."
The T plans to replace old track ties, renovate stations, and rebuild bridges along the D branch of the Green Line. The new ties will allow trolleys to go faster and clear the way for low-floor trolleys that are easier for the disabled and others to board. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board Thursday approved buying materials for the $9.5 million project, a cost that does not include renovating the Longwood and Brookline Village stations and the reconstructing the Hyde Street bridge in Newton.
Work to replace the 11 miles of track began last summer, but was halted after Newton residents complained of loud nighttime work. T officials met with community members and leaders for months to work out the latest plan, which will only take place during the day. T officials said they plan to take their plan to Newton Mayor David B. Cohen on Friday.
The first phase of the project will restore rail ties and make stations accessible from Riverside station in Newton to Reservoir station in Newton from June 21 to July 31. The T plans to use shuttle buses to ferry passengers between stations where the tracks are closed.
The Sox play 19 home games during that first stretch, but many fans will not be directly affected because they can still ride the T from Reservoir station to Fenway station in Boston.
There is a scheduled pause in the work between Aug. 1 and 3. The weekend of Aug. 4 and 5, the entire branch will be closed, and passengers will be bused its entire length, but no home games are on the calendar.
The second phase of the project will be from Reservoir station to Fenway station and will take place from Aug. 6 to Sept. 2, a period the Sox are scheduled to play nine home games.
During games, fans will be able to take either express or regular shuttle buses to Fenway, or take the C branch to Kenmore station, which will provide additional service during both phases of the project.
Mac Daniel can be reached at mdaniel@globe.com
