Orange Line 30-Day Surge: Week Four Update

What We've Accomplished

Download the full 30-Day Surge Week Four Progress Update

During the fourth week of the Orange Line 30-Day Surge, crews have completed the following work:

• Work that addressed the additional slow zones advanced at Dana Bridge near Assembly and Tufts. 
• Crews completed rail and tie replacement near Back Bay. 
• Final signals work advanced at Oak Grove and Malden Center. 
• At Wellington, final power connections were made to the third rail, new signal masts were installed and wired, and the signal system was tested. Final finishing work was completed, including setting up lighting, restoring fences, replacing guard rail, leveling ballast, and paving. Test trains operated over the newly installed track and special trackwork as a final verification prior to return to service. 
• Crews were completing work at Dana Bridge and through Assembly, Sullivan, Community College and to North Station areas. Crews have replaced over 2,000 ties and continued toward the North Station portal.  
• At Oak Grove and Malden, final signal testing is nearly completed, including operating test trains on the new signal system. These trains also operated through the interface between the new system at Malden and the existing system at Wellington.  
• Cologne egg hardware installations and removals were completed at Tufts Curve, and crews made rail replacements. 
• During the Surge, the initial goal was to prep 60 new Orange Line cars for when Orange Line service is restored September 19. This week, mechanics and engineers completed vehicle readiness of an additional 10 cars, more than enough to cover peak morning and afternoon service (six cars make up a train). Following the Surge, riders will experience better service on an Orange Line fleet that is predominately new cars. 

Additional Repairs and Upgrades 

In addition to completing prioritized work, we're using this time to achieve other planned repairs and upgrades. In week four, crews completed the following additional work: 

Enhancing Safety and State of Good Repair 

• Tufts Standpipe Replacement: Crews removed and replaced the existing standpipe fire suppression system at Tufts station to a new state-of-the-art system that covers all areas of the station. 
• Orange Line Test Pits and Borings: Crews excavated exploratory test pits to expose signal/power infrastructure and underground utilities in preparation for soil borings to support a future project. The borings were completed on schedule and will provide critical soil data for the design of a new underground transmission line.  
• Drainage Cleaning: Crews vacuumed out dozens of catch basins and over 1,000 feet of drainage troughs and pipes. Periodic cleaning of catch basins and drainage troughs is crucial to managing stormwater during large storms and ensuring the trains aren't impacted by flooding conditions.  

Modernizing Rider Experience 

• Interior/Exterior Station Repairs: Repairs at stations across the Orange Line included replacement of platform tactile strips, concrete repairs to platforms, brick paver replacements, station lighting repairs and replacement, bench repairs, signage replacement, stair tread replacement, painting of various station elements, and overall general station cleaning. 
• Wellington Roof Repairs: Crews replaced the existing roof at the Wellington Facility, with roof drainage, all flashing, and roof accessories.  

Improving Accessibility  

• Oak Grove Accessibility Upgrades: Upgrades including skylight installation, elevator work, and installation of new station floors, to eliminate trip hazards and provide a better walking surface for passengers entering and exiting the station. Stair treads were replaced at once entrance, and floors in the station lobby were ground and polished. New lights were installed on the platform and other cosmetic improvements and cleaning was done throughout the station.  
• Tactile Replacement: Crews repaired and replaced tactile strips, which help guide the low vision platforms, at stations between Ruggles and Forest Hills.  

Increasing Passenger Capacity 

• Southwest Corridor Signals: Workers have laid 45,000 feet of new signal cable, which will be activated in 2023 as part the Signal Upgrades project when the new system is placed in service along the Southwest Corridor.  

Contact Us

For questions or comments related to this project, please email the Orange Line Transformation team at OLT@mbta.com.

To report construction issues or noise complaints, please call the OLT project hotline at 617-222-3393.

Sign Up for Orange Line Transformation Updates

To get project news delivered to your inbox, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Recent Updates