Orange Line Shutdown: Expect ‘severe’ traffic, says state’s transportation brass
People who usually commute to Boston are being told to stay home, or at least avoid the areas shuttle buses will be weaving through, as traffic congestion is expected to be “severe” during an impending 30-day Orange Line shutdown that begins Friday night.
“All roadway users will start to see, and should expect to be impacted by this work starting as early as today, when work begins to start to reconfigure travel lanes and turning lanes necessary for the shuttles to safely navigate the diversion route,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver at a Monday press conference in the State Transportation Building.
Gulliver cautioned people who may be considering driving as an alternative to Orange Line subway service that this is not a good option, and they should be considering taking the commuter rail instead, which will be free for those who flash a CharlieCard in Zones 1, 1A and 2, and will see increased trains during the closure.
Gulliver said roadway modifications on city streets will effectively cut roadway passing along the diversion route in half in some areas. On highways, travelers will see a 20% uptick in congestion on I-93, Route 1 and the Fellsway.
“Traffic congestion is expected to be severe,” Gulliver said. “We are urging travelers to evaluate the commute, and if possible, adjust for a route that avoids the shuttle diversion. If you must drive in, shift your travel time to off-peak hours if possible, or avoid the region altogether until the diversion period has concluded.”
The press briefing came three days after the MBTA announced its alternative transit plan for the Orange Line closure, which will extend from 9 p.m. Friday to Sept. 18, and will overlap with a 28-day closure on part of the Green Line, from Union Square to Government Center stations.
MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said the rider’s guide includes three shuttle bus routes, from Oak Grove to Government Center, followed by a transfer to Green Line service, from Government Center southward, which concludes with additional shuttle service from Copley to Back Bay to Forest Hills stations.
Four of the 20 Orange Line stations — State Street, Downtown Crossing, Chinatown and Tufts Medical Center— have been excluded from the shuttle bus routes, which has prompted concern from Chinatown and Tufts reps.
Citing Chinatown’s challenging geography, Poftak said it wasn’t possible for the T to run an efficient shuttle route through there. He said Green Line service is available at other stations, and the Boylston station on the Orange Line is “a healthy walk,” about a block away.
“We’re also trying to run additional service on the Silver Line that serves for instance, Tufts, Chinatown and Downtown Crossing,” Poftak said. “So I think we have the best plan we can, in terms of the ability to run an efficient shuttle, and given the constraints on the number of shuttle buses.”
Gov. Charlie Baker, citing $8 billion worth of investment his administration has made in MBTA system repairs since he took office, said he was confident in the T’s ability to complete five years’ worth of track repairs and upgrades over the promised 30-day period.
“It’s necessary work and it will result in a smoother and faster Orange Line coming out the other side,” Baker said. “When this project is complete, Orange Line travelers will have a faster and more reliable ride and the Orange Line car fleet will be made up almost exclusively of new vehicles.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/uXeRT5h
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