Boston MBTA Advances Red Line Signal Upgrade
MBTA Red Line Braintree riders must transfer at JFK/UMass evenings for signal work
MBTA Red Line Braintree Riders Face Transfers March 26
Braintree branch riders will need to transfer at JFK/UMass station for two weeks starting March 26 as the MBTA begins Phase 3 of signal modernization work at Columbia Junction. The evening service changes affect northbound and southbound riders from 8 PM through end of service each day, requiring transfers to Alewife-Ashmont trains for continued travel beyond JFK/UMass. Riders should budget an additional 10-15 minutes of travel time during the work period, transit officials said.
Signal System Repairs Address 2019 Derailment Damage
The modernization project repairs signal infrastructure damaged in a major 2019 derailment and installs new digital signaling technology near JFK/UMass station. The MBTA is completing over 1,200 tests on more than 100 track circuits in the Columbia Junction area as part of the comprehensive upgrade. The first two phases of the project have been completed ahead of schedule, officials said. The new system will enable faster train routing, quicker turnarounds, and more efficient recovery from disruptions once fully operational.
Two-Week Phase Requires Evening Transfers
Phase 3 will last approximately two weeks beginning March 26, with service changes affecting evening hours starting at 8 PM through end of service. The work involves testing and cutover of the new digital signaling system near JFK/UMass station. Braintree branch riders will need to transfer to Alewife-Ashmont trains at JFK/UMass for continued service beyond that station during the affected hours. Normal service patterns will operate during daytime hours, officials said.
Additional Phases Planned Through Summer
Phase 4 is expected to begin around April 9 and will also last approximately two weeks with different service patterns, though officials haven't specified exact details of those changes. Three-day Red Line service suspensions are anticipated on late spring and early summer weekends to complete final work on the signal modernization project. The MBTA hasn't announced specific dates for the weekend suspensions.
Riders Can Track Service Changes
The transfers will add 10-15 minutes to evening trips for Braintree branch riders traveling through or beyond JFK/UMass during the two-week work period. Officials said the signal upgrades will improve long-term Red Line reliability by addressing infrastructure damage from the 2019 derailment and modernizing the junction's control systems. Moovit provides real-time Red Line updates and alternative route planning during the signal modernization work.
