MBTA to Provide Express Riverside-Copley Shuttle Buses for D Branch Riders Heading to Fenway Park during Upcoming Accelerated Construction

These express shuttle buses will operate from Riverside to Copley during Red Sox home games and during rush hour for the two nine-day full access closures of the D Branch from June 12 to June 20 and June 24 to July 2.

The MBTA will provide express bus shuttle service from Riverside Station to Copley Station during the Green Line Transformation (GLT) program’s accelerated 18 days of 24/7 work scheduled for the Green Line D Track and Signal Replacement Project. The express bus shuttles will operate during rush hour and during Red Sox games at Fenway Park throughout the two phases of the full access closure from June 12 to June 20 and from June 24 to July 2. This accelerated approach will ensure the entire D Branch Track and Signal project is completed on time in order to deliver full benefits to riders this year. To better support riders during these closure periods, GLT has worked closely with the Red Sox organization to minimize impacts for fans seeking to use public transit to get to Fenway Park.

“With ridership continuing to increase and Red Sox fans returning to Fenway Park, we’re pleased to supplement our planned alternative bus shuttle service with express shuttle buses to meet demand during rush hour and for Fenway events over the course of the two nine-day full-access closures,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “The accelerated 18-day schedule in June and July will see this project to completion later this year with the most disruptive track work now expected to be completed by early fall. The investments we are making today in safety and reliability of the D Branch will improve service for many years to come.”

Express bus shuttles will operate from Riverside to Copley during rush hour and during Red Sox games at Fenway Park throughout the two phases of the full access closure from June 12 to June 20 and from June 24 to July 2.

The Green Line D Track and Signal Replacement Project is a major infrastructure project that includes replacing 25,000 feet of track and 6.5 miles of signals on the Green Line D Branch between Riverside and Beaconsfield. While safe and functioning, much of the D Branch infrastructure was in need of updating. Prior to the start of this project, the signal system used elements from the 1950s and the track was approximately 30 years old. The benefits of updating these elements include the lifting of speed restrictions on some sections for faster service and mitigating the risk of service interruptions with a modern, centralized signal system.

“Supporting our riders and neighbors of the Green Line to minimize inconvenience during construction is a fundamental part of the Green Line Transformation’s holistic approach,” said MBTA Chief of Green Line Transformation Angel Peña. “We will continue to work closely with stakeholders like the Red Sox to support our riders as we work to improve the D Branch and we believe the express service from Copley to Riverside will help to minimize disruption.”

“With the addition of express shuttle buses between Riverside and Copley stations, Red Sox fans heading to Fenway Park will now have two alternatives for public transit during upcoming construction periods on the D Branch. Working closely with the T as we return to full capacity, we are pleased they are able to provide this additional shuttle service to support riders during games at Fenway Park,” stated Dave Friedman, Executive Vice President, Legal & Government Affairs, for the Boston Red Sox. “We appreciate the Green Line Transformation team’s efforts to accelerate the completion of the D Branch Track and Signal project and to deliver improved service for D Branch riders heading to Fenway by later this year.”

Acceleration Details

Starting after the end of normal service on Friday, June 11, crews will work around the clock — weekdays, weeknights, and weekends — for a total of 18 days to accelerate the construction and ultimately reduce the duration of impacts to riders and neighbors. The work will take place for 24 hours a day as follows:

From the end of regular service on Friday, June 11, to the beginning of regular service on Monday, June 21.
From the end of regular service on Wednesday, June 23, to the beginning of regular service on Saturday, July 3.

During the accelerated work, the noisiest track replacement is anticipated to be concentrated in the Reservoir area and the Riverside area. Crews will be working along the project corridor between Riverside and Beaconsfield on catenary pole installations, welding previously installed new rail, and performing signal replacement work, some of which can generate noise. Crews will also be moving equipment on and off the tracks in various locations. The public is encouraged to check the Work Locations section on the project website for the latest anticipated work areas. Work will include replacing nine units of special track work where trains switch tracks.

These closures also give other area projects the opportunity to complete major developments, including the Town of Brookline’s Brookline High School Expansion Project, Brookline Hills Station Accessibility Improvements, and Carlton Street Footbridge Rehabilitation. Other MBTA Departments, such as the Maintenance Department, may also take this opportunity to complete needed work on the D Branch.

Alternate Green Line Service During Accelerated Work

To accelerate this work, D Branch trolley service will be replaced with shuttle buses between Riverside and Kenmore for a total of eighteen days. The two nine-day closures will take place on the following dates:

Saturday, June 12, through Sunday, June 20.
Thursday, June 24, through Friday, July 2.

These free, accessible shuttle buses will stop at stations between Riverside and Kenmore. The MBTA will carefully monitor ridership levels on shuttle buses, adjusting service levels if needed.

All work on the Green Line D Track and Signal Replacement Project will pause on July 3 through July 5 for the Fourth of July holiday. On Tuesday, July 6, shuttle buses will continue to run on weeknights and weekends through the duration of the project. More information can be found on the Green Line D Service Changes page as well as within D Branch Alerts.

Minimizing Noise

The MBTA implements standard mitigation strategies to minimize noise disruptions to neighbors. Noise levels are monitored, and the MBTA responds to all noise complaints. A 24/7 noise hotline is available to report a noise issue at 508-676-3550.