Support WBUR
Boston's Morning Newsletter
When to expect MBTA shutdowns this fall, as slow zone removal plan enters final stretch
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
There’s a hint of fall in the air, just in time for arrival of Dunkin’s new seasonal menu. But one of the items has sparked a question: If Rhode Island can get a Dunkin’ latte inspired by their official state beverage, why can’t we?
[Checks Massachusetts’ state beverage.]
OK, fine, that might be gross.
Let’s get to the news:
Now arriving: A busy fall for the T and another series of disruptions for riders. During his recent Radio Boston appearance, MBTA General Manager Phil Eng said the agency remains on track to meet the big goal he set last fall: no slow zones by the end of 2024. And they’ve made solid progress — reducing the number of slow zones across the MBTA’s four subway lines from over 240 to just 67 and completely eliminating them on the Blue Line. Still, “there’s a tremendous amount of work” left, Eng says. Here’s what riders on the Red, Orange and Green lines should expect during this final stretch:
Red Line
- Current slow zones: 39
- Planned shutdowns: The big one starts next Friday. It’s a 24-day closure from Braintree to JFK/UMass, on Friday, Sept. 6 to Sept. 29. Eng says the closure will remove all of the remaining slow zones on the Braintree branch (plus lay the groundwork for future 50 mph trains). Eng says the T is also planning at least one more Red Line diversion in November on the Cambridge side of the river to tackle a slow zone between Kendall/MIT and Central.
- No slow zones by… the end of November.
Orange Line
- Current slow zones: 20
- Planned shutdowns: Orange Line riders should plan on two more partial shutdowns this fall. Eng says the first will be from Forest Hills to Back Bay in October, followed later in the month by another partial closure between Wellington to North Station.
- No slow zones by… early November.
Green Line
- Current slow zones: 2
- Planned shutdowns: The T says it has successfully removed all slow zones on the above-ground branches of the Green Line. Last up is addressing what Eng calls a “tough area” near Government Center, where the tracks twist through old downtown tunnels. “We have some challenging speed restrictions there,” Eng said at a meeting last week. The exact dates and length of those planned diversion are still TBD, but Eng says it will happen in December.
- No slow zones by… the end of December.
Report card day: The Boston School Committee voted last night to officially give BPS superintendent Mary Skipper an overall “effective” rating for her performance the last school year, her second on the job. WBUR’s Carrie Jung reports the grade reflects mixed reviews among committee members. Some praised Skipper’s work to improve school bus arrival times and student reading instruction, while others criticized her for lacking a clear facilities plan.
- Why it matters: The rating means Skipper — who commands a base salary of $300,000 a year — will receive a 2.5% raise.
- Meanwhile: BPS will have to hire 18 substitute paraprofessionals, after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court sided with the Boston Teachers Union in a years-long legal fight. The ruling comes as the union has made paraprofessional pay increases a top priority in their current BPS teacher contract negotiations.
Teeing off: The LPGA Tour’s first tournament in New England in 20 years gets underway today. The inaugural FM Championship will be played at the TPC Boston golf club in Norton through Sunday.
- A total of 144 players will compete for $3.8 million in prize money, which organizers say is one of the largest prize funds on the LPGA Tour, outside of the majors and tour championship. The field includes two Massachusetts natives: Meghan Khang, of Rockland, and Alex Sano, who grew up in Westborough.
- FYI: Daily tickets are still available for $36 to $54. Click here for more details, like parking, if you decide to trek over to Norton.
Next up: JD Vance is scheduled to speak at the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention in the Seaport this afternoon. The Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio senator’s appearance comes just a day after his Democratic counterpart Tim Walz spoke at the convention, seeking the union’s support.
- In the 2020 presidential election, the union backed President Biden, but has yet to make an endorsement this time around.
P.S.— We have, as they say, some personnel news. WBUR has chosen its new Morning Edition host! Our own Tiziana Dearing will be taking over the big chair for the early shift starting Sept. 18. Her last day as Radio Boston host will be next Friday, Sept. 6. You can read more about the move (and what’s next for Radio Boston) here.
