📋 Tender Overview
First Two Phases Have Been Completed Ahead Of Schedule. Beginning March 26 For Approximately Two Weeks, Northbound And Southbound Braintree Branch Riders Will Need To Transfer To An Alewife-Ashmont Train At Jfk/Umass For Continued Service Beyond Jfk/Umass. The Mbta Today Announced That Phases 1 And 2 Of Critical Signal Modernization Work Taking Place On The Red Line At Columbia Junction Have Been Completed Ahead Of Schedule, And Phase 3 Will Begin On March 26 For Approximately Two Weeks. During Phase 3 Of This Critical Signal Work, Beginning At Approximately 8 Pm Through The End Of Service Each Day, Northbound And Southbound Braintree Branch Riders Will Need To Transfer To An Alewife-Ashmont Train At Jfk/Umass For Continued Service Beyond Jfk/Umass. Crews Are Completing The Testing And Cutover Of The New, Digital Signaling System At Columbia Junction Near Jfk/Umass. This Work Brings Important Upgrades That Will Strengthen Red Line Service Reliability For Riders, Providing The Ability To Route Trains More Quickly, Turn Trains Around Faster, And Recover From Unplanned Disruptions More Efficiently. In Order To Test The New Signal Equipment And Cutover To The New System, The Remaining Temporary Service Changes Outlined Below Will Be In Place Beginning At 8 Pm Through The End Of Service Every Day . Phases 3 And 4 Are Anticipated To Last Approximately Two Weeks Each, But May Adjust Slightly Based On The Work Being Completed. Any Timing Adjustments Will Be Made Public In Advance On T-Alerts . Riders Should Budget An Additional 10 - 15 Minutes Of Travel Time For Each Of The Phases Listed Below . These Service Changes Will Not Occur On Patriots Day/Marathon Monday. Phase 3: Beginning March 26 For Approximately Two Weeks Ashmont Branch: Regular Service Will Operate Between Ashmont And Alewife. Braintree Branch: Regular Service Will Operate Between Braintree And Jfk/Umass. For Continued Service Beyond Jfk/Umass, Riders Will Need To Transfer To An Alewife-Ashmont Train At Jfk/Umass. Longer Travel Times Are Expected Between Broadway And Jfk/Umass. Reduced Frequency Of Trains Along The Entire Line. Phase 4: Likely Beginning April 9 For Approximately Two Weeks Ashmont Branch: Regular Service Will Operate Between Ashmont And Jfk/Umass. For Continued Service Beyond Jfk/Umass, Riders Will Need To Transfer To An Alewife-Braintree Train At Jfk/Umass. Braintree Branch: Regular Service Will Operate Between Braintree And Alewife. Longer Travel Times Are Expected Between Broadway And Jfk/Umass. Reduced Frequency Of Trains Along The Entire Line. Signal Modernization At Columbia Junction Columbia Junction Is The Complex Area Of Track Just North Of Jfk/Umass That Merges The Ashmont And Braintree Branches And Connects The Red LineS Main Passenger Track To The Cabot Yard Maintenance Facility Where The Majority Of The Red Line Fleet Is Stored And Maintained. The Signal System In This Area Was Significantly Damaged Following The Major Derailment Of A Red Line Train In 2019 . Initial Repairs Restored Service At That Time, But Signal And Switch Operations Have Continued To Be Limited. The Work Taking Place Now, Which Could Have Been Completed In 2019, Fully Corrects These Issues, Restoring Full System Functionality. Operations Will Have The Ability To Quickly Reroute Trains As Needed, Turn Trains Around Faster, And Quickly Recover After Unplanned Service Changes, Ultimately Providing A Better Transit Experience For Riders. The Work Also Follows Through On The MbtaS Commitment To Complete Major Signal Upgrades On The Orange And Red Lines Prior To The World Cup Matches This Summer. Testing Of The New System Began In Mid-February, And Cutover And Commissioning Work Began On February 28 . Over 100 Track Circuits Are Within The Columbia Junction Area, And Most Track Circuits Have 12 Tests That Need To Be Performed. With Over 1,200 Tests To Complete During This Phase Of The Project, The Mbta Is Closely Monitoring, Analyzing, And Documenting The Results Of Each Test, Understanding That Adjustments Will Need To Be Made As The Work Progresses. The Mbta Is Also Anticipating Three-Day Red Line Service Suspensions In Late Spring/Early Summer On Weekends To Complete Final Work.
