The MBTA will replace 2,000 feet of track on the Green Line B Branch between Packard’s Corner and Allston Street from July 17 to 28. Shuttle buses will replace B Branch trolleys during that time.

MBTA

Track Upgrades on Green Line B Branch to Begin July 17: What You Need to Know

Shuttle buses replacing trolleys from Kenmore Square to Boston College through July 28, traffic detours also expected

A word of warning to commuters passing through Packard’s Corner: prepare for disruptions starting Monday, July 17, and continuing through July 28 as the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) begins track upgrades on the Green Line B Branch. 

The MBTA announced its plans on June 22, less than two weeks after a B Branch car derailed in Packard’s Corner. 

“I made a commitment to the public when I accepted this responsibility to restore safety and reliability,” Phillip Eng, MBTA general manager, said in a statement. “The recent derailment is a stark reminder that we have work to do, and accelerating this work when schools are out is the best way to address a long-standing issue.”

The accelerated track and tie replacement work calls for replacing 2,300 feet of track between Packard’s Corner and Allston Street, including 800 feet at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Brighton Avenue and 1,5000 feet between the Harvard Avenue station and the Griggs station. As a result, outbound traffic will not be able to turn left at Packard’s Corner, and traffic heading east from Brighton Avenue will not be able to proceed across Packard’s Corner. 

In addition, 400 feet of track will be replaced between Blandford Street and the BU East T stations. This will require closing the inside lanes of both sides of Commonwealth Avenue from Granby Street to Silber Way from July 17 to 28. The intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Silber Way will be closed to vehicular traffic and the MBTA bus stop at Hinsdale Mall will be closed. The work will not impact the BU Shuttle stops at Silber Way and Blandford Street.

Shuttle buses will replace trolley service between Kenmore station and the Boston College terminal during that time.

Residents should be aware that certain parking spaces near construction areas will be temporarily unavailable and crosswalks in those zones will be closed. The MBTA has advised motorists and pedestrians to be on the lookout for detour signage and police officers directing traffic at key locations.

Finally, the MBTA advises that there may be noise impacts once the upgrades commence, and that “[t]he loudest work will occur when crews cut rails and tamp the track to the proper elevation.” Neighbors can visit this link to learn more about noise minimization strategies, and can address noise complaints, as well as other construction-related queries, to the MBTA’s system-wide project hotline at 617-222-3331. Residents are encouraged to email GLT@mbta.com for information about these and other Green Line Transformation Program updates, and they may sign up for email updates at this link.

These track upgrades, part of the MBTA’s ongoing Green Line Transformation Program, also include duct bank replacement and edge painting.

In an email sent to the BU community late last month, Billy Hajjar, BU’s director of parking and transportation services, noted that “[a]lthough this maintenance will be disruptive for many BU community members, it will help to address speed restrictions in the area and improve the overall safety and reliability of service” of the B Branch.

In a statement regarding the track upgrades, the MBTA stressed its emphasis on reliability and safety, two main tenets of the Capital Improvement Plan, with the Green Line Transformation Program a key part. Regarding the upcoming B Branch upgrades, the MBTA notes that these repairs seek to “reduc[e] the risk of unplanned service disruptions” and “increase [trolley] speed for a more consistent schedule” on the oldest subway line in America, and in local opinion, the least consistently reliable. 

“We are committed to providing our riders with the best possible quality of service,” says a statement by Angel Peña, MBTA chief of capital transformation. “A full-access closure allows crews to accomplish critical upgrades on an expedited schedule, delivering improved service that our riders deserve. We understand how frustrating service diversions can be. However, as a team, we will work as quickly and safely as possible to deliver these much-needed upgrades.”