MBTA Makes Significant Progress on Expedited Critical Track Work on Orange Line, Removes Six Speed Restrictions

This service change was in place to support critical work as part of MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project. With service already suspended in these areas, the MBTA also took full advantage of the outage to perform important Track Improvement Program work.

Crews worked to perform critical track and tie replacement work during this Orange Line diversion. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

The MBTA today announced the completion of critical track work on the Orange Line while service was suspended between North Station and Oak Grove during the weekend of June 22 – 23 and between North Station and Wellington June 24 – 30. As a result of unencumbered access to track areas, crews accomplished important work to lift six safety-related speed restrictions, which is two more than were planned. The work accomplished will result in a safer, more reliable trip for riders with fewer unplanned service disruptions.

Track work was accomplished along the Orange Line. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

“We continue to accomplish long deferred maintenance, repairs, and full-depth track replacement across our system, fulfilling our commitment to our riders and the communities we serve, delivering reliable, safe, and quicker trips,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “With each diversion, we maximize every opportunity to tackle this work, including station improvements, through better planning, scoping, and coordination. I’m proud of our workforce and our contractors working side by side as we deliver these important upgrades and thank our riders for their continued patience while we work to deliver them a safer, smoother, and more reliable trip.”

Crews worked in critical track areas during this Orange Line diversion. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

This service change was in place to support critical work as part of MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project, which will replace the two deteriorated bridge superstructures and improve bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities. With service already suspended in these areas to support the MassDOT work, the MBTA took full advantage of the outage to perform Track Improvement Program work, including track and tie upgrades that have allowed the removal of speed restrictions between Community College and Sullivan Square. Crews also maximized the outage by performing signal work and station amenity upgrades, including new lighting, painting, tiling, power washing, and more.

Crews performed improvement work along the Orange Line. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

With unencumbered access to Orange Line stations, crews accomplished the following work:

Replaced over 5,700 feet of running rail.
Replaced nearly 3,200 ties.
Resurfaced and tamped 10,500 feet of track.
Performed 657 feet of full depth track construction.
Performed critical signal and switch modernization work between Oak Grove and Assembly.
Accomplished stair repairs at Sullivan Square and Community College.
Continued work to upgrade the station entrance at Community College.
Security upgrades were accomplished at Assembly.
Drainage repairs were performed at Sullivan Square.
Cable repairs and inspections were performed throughout the shutdown area.
Performed inspections, maintenance, and repairs, including upgrading station lighting where needed.

As a result of this critical work, the following safety-related speed restrictions are no longer in place:


Speed Restriction Number	Restriction Information and Location	Status
Speed Restriction Number	1. 000027	Restriction Information and Location	Southbound between Sullivan Square and Community College	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	2. 000023	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Sullivan Square and Community College	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	3. 000020	Restriction Information and Location	Southbound between Sullivan Square and Community College	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	4. 000062	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Sullivan Square and Community College	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	5. 000026	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Community College and Sullivan Square	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	6. 000039	Restriction Information and Location	Near Sullivan Square	Status	Removed

As a reminder, given the amount work to be performed, the MBTA plans to accomplish additional Orange Line work as part of the Track Improvement Program later this year, which is required to eliminate speed restrictions north of Wellington.

Work included tamping thousands of feet of track along the Orange Line. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

A variety of other in-station work also took place along the Orange Line to further enhance the rider experience, including:

At Wellington, five damaged fencing poles were replaced along the right of way, painting improvements were performed, and HVAC work took place.
At Assembly, a station gate was repaired.
At Sullivan Square, platform repairs and cleaning work was performed.
At Community College, cleaning, debris removal, and HVAC work took place.
System maps were replaced at North Station.
Signage was cleaned and/or replaced throughout the shutdown area.