Photo: Jim MacKay/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Orange Line is back on track. The unprecedented month-long shutdown of the line has come to an end, and MBTA management is touting a set of improvements. MassDOT says the MBTA was able to accomplish five years of maintenance work during the shutdown.
The T originally decided on the shutdown after a series of safety issues system-wide and an order to shape up from the Federal Transit Administration.
At the top of the list was eliminating six "slow zones" along the Orange Line route. The system also replaced 14,000 feet of rail, put about 40 new rail cars in service, and cleaned all the stations.
Riders at Forest Hills Station in Jamaica Plain were grateful to have the trains back.
"I'm glad it's over with, they did a great job, cleaning everything," said David, a regular commuter. The Orange Line moves about 100,000 people a day, according to MassDOT — that's a little under 50% of pre-pandemic ridership.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports:
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