‘Simply ridiculous’: Readers share their MBTA closure woes
Plus, Red Line riders say they are not looking forward to their February commute.
On Monday, the MBTA announced it had completed critical track work on the Green Line after sections of the subway’s four branches and the Green Line Extension were suspended for most of January.
“I’m proud of the work our crews were able to accomplish during this most recent Green Line shutdown – the Green Line tunnel in the downtown area received tremendous maintenance and attention that will have a generational impact on current and future riders, and we were able to tackle this critical work thanks to the unencumbered access to the track area,” MBTA general manager Phillip Eng said in a statement.
Officials said the critical track maintenance removed 16 safety-related speed restrictions and shortened another by over 500 feet. Renovations included replacing over 10,000 feet of rail, making structural repairs and inspections at several stations, and repairing critical signal and power systems.
But for the 52 respondents to our poll, the upgrades came at the expense of their commutes, which were made significantly longer for many, and were plagued by over-packed trains and shuttle buses. The majority (79%) of the respondents said their commute during the shutdown was bad, with 13% saying it was about the same, and 8% saying it was better than normal.
Zach H. from the North End said the shutdown meant he would have to take the Orange Line to work, which he said was “constantly over-packed,” as it was the recommended subway line to bring riders into the Downtown area.
“I would often watch trains stop at my station but I would not be able to fit on them,” he said. “The next train would sometimes be as long as 10-15 minutes away. Then when it did show up, it would also be packed.”
Paul from Roslindale agreed, saying with the Green Line closure, the Orange Line got very crowded. On top of the crowds, he said he felt trains did not run as frequently as they should have during rush hour.
“Overall, the reliability of the MBTA system has gotten worse and worse year after year,” he said.
See below a sampling of readers sharing their experiences commuting on the Green Line in January, and the alternative ways they decided to commute instead. Plus, see how Red Line riders are feeling ahead of the February shutdown.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Tell us how the Green Line closures have affected your commute.
‘There is no priority given to people who need assistance’
“As a disabled person the commute tripled commute time. The buses they are using do not accommodate elderly or disabled persons, and there is no priority given to people who need assistance.”
– Dar M., Brookline
“The trains were full and I couldn’t find any seats because I am disabled! The buses were also full and it took me 1/2 longer than usual for my commute! We had to wait in the winter elements and it was extremely inconvenient! We honestly deserve to have free transportation until this period of continuous construction is finished!”
– Shelley M., Brookline
‘I decided to commute by bike instead’
“The shuttle bus/orange line commute from Coolidge Corner to Government Center was so bad, I decided to commute by bike instead. It’s really worked out for me, my bike ride has gone from 30 min to 15 min as I’ve improved my route and gotten back into shape. So long as it isn’t snowing, icy or very wet I’ll stick with riding to work.”
– Daniel R., Brookline
“It took consistently longer by nearly 30 minutes mainly because of the need to swap transport methods so often. I took the green line to kenmore, then a bus to Copley, then the orange line, and then had to walk further than normal to my office. I tried driving but marking was too expensive and so was ubering. I got an e-bike and now my commute is nearly half the time.”
Natalie, Newton
‘The best route I found was taking the commuter rail’
“I switched to the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail and rode it for two stops to South Station.”
– Tanner L., Fenway
“My commute from Newton was 25 to45 minutes longer than normal. Whenever possible I carpooled or worked from home rather than taking the MBTA. The best route I found was taking the commuter rail from Landsdowne to Back Bay station via Fenway. This alternate won’t even be possible during the February shutdown.”
– Sheldon R., Newton
Uber/Lyft
“I personally know people who have shelled out hundreds of dollars in Uber and Lyft rides due to lack of working trains and overcrowded buses, or buses that simply never showed up (especially those with disabilities.) The closures extended already aggravating and long commutes. It’s an embarrassment to the city, and it’s the main reason people unapologetically drive their own cars and prefer Ubers and Lyfts. They don’t let us down.”
– Leanne S., Allston
‘I shifted entirely to a combination of different bus routes’
“I ride the Green Line to the Red Line in the afternoon. During the shutdown I shifted entirely to a combination of different bus routes. Made an already slow commute even slower and more unpredictable. E-Line users were directed to use the 39 as an alternative. Did not appear to me that the MBTA added any extra buses to accommodate the 100s, even 1000s, of E-line riders displaced by the Green Line closure. Buses were the typical 10-15 mins apart, but often blew past the stop because the bus was full. If I did manage to get on a bus, it was typically unbearably crowded.”
– Meg, Boston
“I used the 39 bus twice in lieu of riding the E Line. The trip was considerably longer in both directions. The return trip was overcrowded, and the bus was not clean.”
– Tess, Cambridge
‘I ended up foregoing public transportation’
“I ended up foregoing public transportation after experiencing insane delays with shuttle buses. They were not prepared for rush hour at all. The MBTA also did not consider what to do in cases of extreme cold-which happened-and left hundreds of people standing in the cold waiting for not enough buses. The commute via public transportation from Newton Centre to Boylston increased by a full hour. They also still required green line riders to pay going in, which seems ridiculous.”
– Garrison, Newton
“With the terrible weather, I simply drive to work. The need to take a train to a shuttle to another train for a 5 mile commute is simply ridiculous. I’m not sure why there isn’t more outrage that they are even approaching it this way.”
– Marvin, Brookline
Red Line riders: How do you think your commute will go in February 2024?
“I take the Commuter Rail to Porter Square followed by the Red Line to Kendall. I’m just going to work from home as much as possible and avoid the drive. Shuttles buses are not (never are) adequate for a commuter rail’s worth of pax all transferring at the same time. Hopefully this fixes the 5mph travel speed between Central and Harvard; this can easily cause you to miss the CR when Red line trains are delayed. Right now you need to leave 20 min earlier than usual to accommodate this, and end up standing around at Porter way longer than necessary. It’s not exactly a comfortable place to be lounging around.”
– Michael D., Concord
“Worse! They are repeating the same flawed system in the coldest month of the year with capacity seating because of students. Why not wait until May when the students are gone and people look forward to the AC in the buses?
– Dar M., Brookline
“It will be what it always is–terrible for everyone. The MBTA and Mayor Wu will promise to change things, and nothing will ever change. They should be ashamed. This entire thing was 100% avoidable years ago.”
– Leanne S., Allston
“Fortunately, I have the flexibility to work from home, so I expect I’ll do that during the Red Line maintenance shutdown. I may bike to the office if the weather is reasonable, but that’s not very likely during February. I’m glad we have plenty of notice for this maintenance.”
– Barb S., Cambridge
“It will be faster for me to walk.”
– Meg, Boston
“I will defer whatever travel possible on the Red Line between Alewife and Harvard.”
– Tess, Cambridge
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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