BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority eliminated six speed restrictions as a result of its latest major track project, a suspension of service between the Red Line’s JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT stations Aug. 19-26.
Plans were to address five slow orders, but a sixth identified during the service suspension was also taken care of.
“We know service suspensions are challenging for the public,” MBTA CEO Phillip Eng said in a press release, “but the amount of work that needed to be done required this level of access to ensure that we safely and properly performed the necessary work in the most productive manner. This short-term closure now allows us to safely deliver more reliable, more frequent train service longer term, giving people back time in their day.”
The project was extended one day from the original completion date of Aug. 25 to allow work to be completed following an incident involving track maintenance equipment along the Longfellow Bridge, the MBTA said.
Work during the suspension included replacement of more than 9,750 feet of rail, more than 1720 feet of restraining rail, and more than 470 ties. Some 260 feet of full-depth track construction was completed, along with resurfacing and tamping of 9,200 feeet of track. More than 8,100 feet of cable hangers were installed in tunnels between Broadway and Downtown Crossing, and more than 2,000 feet of signal cable was replaced. Various station repairs were also conducted, along with power and signal modernization, security camera upgrades, and drainage and pump work.
Another round of major Red Line work is planned for September, when service is suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree Sept. 6-29 [see “MBTA prepares for lengthy Red Line closure …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 28, 2024].
