Newton Green Line Closures End This Weekend: What To Know

NEWTON, MA — The last of three 9-day closures of the Green Line D Branch in Newton will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 29, two days ahead of schedule.

The completion of these closures will conclude construction on the Green Line for the year, while also laying the groundwork for ongoing improvements to continue in 2023, the MBTA said.

Throughout six service diversions across the B, C, D, and E Branches in 2022, teams replaced over 14,000 feet of track and installed more than 150 components of the Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS).

“When these closures started in June, Capital Transformation and the other departments involved began an extensive multiyear undertaking to modernize and transform the Green Line,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said in a statement. “Their work during these closures has put us on a path to success when the work continues next year. Further improvements will include additional track replacement and the installation of the complex GLTPS safety equipment.”

Additional improvements made during the Green Line Closures include the following:

• The MBTA’s Maintenance of Way team repaired track.
• The MBTA’s Transit Facilities Maintenance team upgraded station amenities including fence painting, station painting, lighting improvements, and new station maps.
• The MBTA’s Power Department repaired catenary wires.
• The MBTA’s Bridge and Structures team inspected bridges and tunnels along the right-of-way.
• Trees and vegetation were removed along the tracks to improve line of sight for train operators.
• The Town of Brookline progressed the rehabilitation of the Carlton Street Footbridge.
• Fishbach & Moore upgraded signals.
• The Longwood Collective (formally MASCO) planted trees along Huntington Avenue on the E Branch.
• Teams conducted surveys along all four branches.

The MBTA Capital Program’s Capital Transformation team kicked off construction on the Green Line with a virtual public meeting in May. During this meeting, the team provided details on the construction plans, mitigation strategies, schedules, and alternative service options for riders.

Next year, Capital Transformation’s Green Line Transformation team will return to further progress the implementation of GLTPS equipment on vehicles. Over the next few years, the team will continue making improvements to Green Line infrastructure.

“Over the last year, our Green Line Transformation team has continued making vast improvements to safety and reliability across all branches of the oldest transit line in the country,” MBTA Chief of Capital Transformation Angel Peña said in a statement. “And while we are thrilled with the progress made in transforming the Green Line during these closures, there is still significant work to be done in the coming years in order to provide a level of service that our riders, our communities, and our Commonwealth can be proud of.”

For more information on the Green Line Transformation Program, visit mbta.com/GLT or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.