Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A shutdown on the Orange Line has some commuters upset.
Orange line service between Back Bay and Forest Hills is closed Friday for repairs. Riders hopping on replacement shuttles understand the reasoning for repairs, they are questioning the timing.
"Yeah, I don't know why they're doing it on Friday. Usually it's only the weekend," one commuter said.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says it's working on signal upgrades and modernization work all day Friday and into Saturday.
"This could have been a Saturday, Sunday thing, but at the same time I can kind of see why they would want to do it Friday. Like probably get a jump start on all the repairs they're doing," another commuter said.
Repairs continue through the weekend, when temperatures are back in the mid-30s. Regular service will resume on Sunday, Dec 7 and while commuters are able to utilize fare free shuttle buses until then, it doesn't help that the repairs are happening on a wicked cold day.
"Yeah, it is very cold outside and it's too cold. I want to be home. They should have closed off schools because this is just not it at all. This is not it at all."
"The current two-day Orange Line suspension runs through Saturday and the longer Green Line suspension begins on Monday. Some pre-staging has been taking place on the Green Line, but the Sunday in between is needed for crews to move and stage heavy equipment, additional construction materials, etc., between each of the work areas," said Deputy Press Secretary, Lisa Battiston in a statement to WBZ NewRadio on Friday.
Shuttle bus stops include:
Back Bay:
Northbound/Southbound - Back Bay Station (165 Dartmouth St)
Massachusetts Avenue:
Northbound - Columbus Ave @ Mass Ave (584 Columbus Ave)
Southbound - Columbus Ave @ Mass Ave (585 Columbus Ave)
Ruggles:
Northbound - Ruggles Station (Upper Busway)
Southbound - 1125 Tremont St
Roxbury Crossing:
Northbound - Columbus Ave @ Malcolm X Blvd (1184 Columbus Ave)
Southbound - Tremont St @ Roxbury Crossing Station (1135 Columbus Ave)
Jackson Square:
Northbound - Jackson Square Station (250 Centre St)
Southbound - Columbus Ave @ Amory St (1579 Columbus Ave)
Stony Brook:
Northbound - Stony Brook Station
Southbound - Amory St @ Boylston St (207 Amory St)
Green Street:
Northbound - Amory St @ Gordon St (Southwest Corridor Park at Green Street Station)
Southbound - Amory St @ Green St (433-451 Amory St)
Forest Hills:
Forest Hills Station (Lower Busway)
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.