The MBTA Track Improvement Program work in February and July 2024 on the Red Line

MBTA Track Improvement Program work in February and July 2024

We are providing an update on the City’s efforts to support the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Track Improvement Program in 2024. The Track Improvement Program is focused on making much-needed and long-deferred track repairs and improvements to the subway system. This work is intended to restore all subway lines to a more regular service – with more predictable travel times and reliable trips. The MBTA is also taking the opportunity to deep clean, make repairs, and maintain systems like lighting, station platforms, subway signals, and communication systems. In Cambridge, this work means extended closures of the Red Line in February, July, October, and December 2024.

The MBTA recently completed two Red Line closures in February: a 10-day closure and a weekend closure. For these closures, City staff focused on providing on-street mitigations and informing Cambridge community members of the closures. These efforts took approximately three months of planning and involved staff from the

Executive, Traffic Parking and Transportation, Community Development, Public

Works, Human Services Programs, Communications Office, and Police Departments.

Below, we provide a review and reflections on the February closures and some information on the upcoming July closure.

February Red Line Closures and Shuttles

Between Monday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 14, the MBTA closed the Red Line between Alewife and Harvard during the day on weekdays and between Alewife and Park Street on weekday evenings and all day on weekends. They ran replacement shuttles to all closed stations in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. The MBTA reports that on a typical weekday when the Red Line is in service, an average of 22,000 riders use the Red Line between Alewife and Harvard.

To provide the replacement shuttle service, the MBTA used 116 shuttle buses at peak times between Alewife and Harvard. The MBTA also made the Fitchburg Commuter Rail line between Porter Square and North Station free to all riders. The MBTA did not count the number of riders using the shuttles, but did report increased ridership on the 83 and 77 bus.

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Later in February, the MBTA closed the Red Line from Alewife to Broadway in South

Boston on the weekend of February 24 and 25. This closure primarily provided time to inspect the tunnel, tracks, and systems and identify additional needed repairs. The MBTA ran shuttles to replace the Red Line and offered free commuter rail rides between Porter Square and North Station on these dates.

For on-street mitigations during the longer February shutdown, the City was able to provide to the MBTA:

Temporary bus stop zones for shuttles–relocating or expanding existing bus stops. Dedicated shared bus-bike shuttle queuing lanes in Porter Square and Harvard Square. Modifications to traffic signals to prioritize bus movements along the shuttle route – including on Mass Ave in Porter Square and Mount Auburn Street near Harvard Square. Temporary sidewalk patches to improve paths of travel for people walking between stations and shuttle stops.

Police Department staff assisted by coordinating police details and helping to enforce temporary curb restrictions and dedicated shuttle lanes. Except for the temporary bus stop zones for shuttles, these on-street mitigations were not repeated for the weekend closure in February.

City staff also made significant efforts to communicate about the closure to residents, students, businesses, workers, places of worship, and visitors in Cambridge. In addition to amplifying the MBTA’s materials, the City of Cambridge:

Published a webpage with detailed information on the closures. Created a flyer with basic facts on the shutdown, with translations into Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish. Community Engagement Team members helped share information in non-English speaking communities. Created maps of shuttle routes and stops and shared on the city webpage and in online materials. Shared ongoing updates in the Daily Email e-newsletter.

Shared detailed information on City and various department social media pages (nearly 70 posts across accounts that led to 157,000 impressions throughout the campaign). Posted VMS boards on key streets to inform drivers of the shutdown. Issued multiple announcements to local and regional media, which resulted in published media coverage (e.g. Cambridge Day, The Crimson, Boston.com, Boston Globe). Involved the City of Somerville in local planning meetings.

Information about the closure was also included in communications by the Department of Human Services Programs (especially the Council on Aging, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and early childhood education programs), Cambridge Public Schools, 22-CityView, and Cambridge Libraries.

Page 3 of 6 In addition, we reached out to organizations in Cambridge to provide information on the closure, shuttles, and travel options.  We also asked these organizations to inform their visitors, clients, and employees about these changes and, where possible, make accommodations for workers’ travel. These included:

Partner organizations like the Cambridge Health Alliance, Housing

Authority, Redevelopment Authority, Alewife TMA, Central Square BID,

Harvard Square Business Association, and Kendall Square

Association/Security Network

Emergency services

Emergency Management Associations

Transportation management associations Places of worship Universities Representatives of large employers Other business associations and neighborhood groups

Our key communications priorities were to ensure that: Residents and workers knew that the partial Red Line closure was happening. People understood that the closure could mean more traffic and longer commutes for all modes. People knew about alternative travel options and accessibility accommodations. People could access information about shuttle stops, shuttle routes, and accessibility. The information reached underserved communities and people who don’t speak English. The information reached people who drive, take the T, and take the bus.

The communications plan specified messages for different groups of Cambridge constituents, including:

For residents: consider alternatives to driving alone, especially walking and biking, and consider keeping trips local. For workers: consider telework, walking, biking, shuttles, and MBTA local bus routes. For large employers, give your employees options, including telework or schedule flexibility.

During and after the February closures, we received feedback from city staff, constituents, and the MBTA. Some key messages that we heard were: