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Orange Line Shutdown FAQs & Resources

Posted on: August 19, 2022 - 3:11pm
Orange Line Shutdown FAQS

As the Orange Line shutdown quickly approaches, Mayor Brodeur's Office has partnered with Senator Jason Lewis’ Office to provide residents with the information they need to make informed decisions around commuting in and out of Boston during the closure, which will begin today, August 19, at 9 p.m. and end on Sunday, September 18.

Multi-Lingual Resources

In addition to the FAQs below, additional information, linked here, is also available in  Arabic, Cabo Verdean Creole, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Cabo Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, courtesy of Representative Steven Ultrino's Office.

Where to Get a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket

Riders can show a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket and ride any Zone 1A, 1 & 2 Commuter Rail line during the shutdown. MBTA riders can pick up a CharlieCard at the Oak Grove Station or at the Melrose Shaw's, located at 34 Essex St, or the Wakefield Shaw's, located at 134 Water St.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) Around the MBTA’s Orange Line Shutdown

  1. How many Commuter Rail Trains will be running for the morning commute?
    • According to the 2022 Orange Line Surge Schedule*, there will be five (5) trains running inbound to Boston between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Please note that Commuter Rail service will be making additional stops for the duration of the shutdown. *This is reflected in the schedule above.
  2. Will riders be able to access both shuttle busses and commuter rail service from Oak Grove?
    • Yes, shuttle busses will be running from the Banks Place side of the station and riders will be able to access commuter trains from this side of the station. Due to construction, the pedestrian bridge will not be accessible to riders during the shutdown. The T has said ambassadors will be present to help direct foot traffic around the station and provide last-mile service to individuals needing accessible transportation.
  3. Does the T have a map of the shuttle route?
    • Yes and no; the T has a map available on its website that shows what areas will be served by shuttle and commuter rail services. They have not yet made a turn-by-turn street map available. With the news that shuttle service will be able to serve the Chinatown stop, it’s clear that routes and maps continue to evolve daily.
  4. How can my neighbors or family that speak languages other than English find out information about this shut down?
    • Just recently, the T sent around multi-lingual resources, which can be accessed above. The T’s website can be translated with a Google Translate plug-in or their translation icon in the upper right corner of the webpages. Please note the T has not confirmed plans on ensuring multi-lingual ambassadors throughout service at every impacted stop.
  5. What are the plans for overflow parking for both bikes and cars during the shutdown?
    • At this time, the T has not provided this information.
  6. Will the T be providing express service to downtown Boston?
    • No; the T has recently decided that it will not be offering express service at this time. We will continue to advocate for this option.
  7. Will roads have dedicated bus lanes and/or streets closed off to regular car traffic to allow for speedier shuttle service?
    • These details were handled on a municipality-by-municipality basis, but to our knowledge, no streets have been closed off to thru-traffic because of this disruption. In many areas, shuttle service will have a dedicated bus lane to use. MassDOT has indicated that car users should expect heavy congestion in and around Boston for the duration of the shutdown.
  8. Has the T put out a map for bike-riders as one of the alternative routes into and out of Boston?
    • This is being finalized now, with a ride-along of the potential route scheduled for Sunday August 21st starting at 11a. Interested riders can register here. This is meant to be a low-stress route for newer and less-experienced riders.
  9. How can riders map out their new routes?
    • The MBTA’s Trip Planner has recently been updated to include shuttle information and commuter rail schedules. It will continue to be updated as routes evolve. This resource can be found here.
  10. Will the MBTA be providing additional mitigation measures to offset the environmental concerns caused by the increase in bus traffic, especially through EJ communities?
    • At this time, we haven’t heard that the T is planning to address this aspect of the shutdown.
  11. How can we stay updated about what’s happening?
    • The MBTA has promised a weekly check in call for both municipal leaders (Mayors/TAs/TMs) and the state delegation (Senators and Reps). At this time, they have not sent out additional details. The public can sign up for updates about the Orange Line Transformation Project here. Additional details will be available here.

Orange Line Shutdown UpdatesFree Commuter RailPlease note, the Mayor's Office will continue to share new information and resources with the community as often as possible.