The red line, the MBTA’s highest-ridership transit line, shuts down July 21-30 between Alewife in Cambridge and Park Street in Boston for infrastructure upgrades. The closing will disrupt travel significantly, so everyone in the region should plan for additional travel time and consider alternatives for getting around.
These are some of the ways people can manage without the red line.
Buses
While the red line is down, buses continuing their regular service. The MBTA highlights the 69, 87, 88, 89, 91 and 109 as routes connecting red line stations to the green line, which passengers can take to downtown Boston and the rest of the system.
In addition, the 1, 47, 66 and 85 buses cross into Boston from Cambridge’s Harvard, Central and Kendall stops.
Buses have proven to be a popular alternative: During a previous red line shutdown in February 2024, ridership on the 77 increased 20 percent, to 6,200 daily riders, according to data from TransitMatters.
Bus lines relevant to other transit options are included below.
Fare-free commuter rail from Porter to North Station
The commuter rail is fare free between Porter Square in Cambridge and North Station in Boston during the shutdown. Once at North Station, transfer to the green or orange lines.
Several bus routes serve Porter. From North Cambridge, the 77 runs along Massachusetts Avenue from Arlington Heights and comes every 8 to 10 minutes during weekday rush hours; the 83 arrives from Alewife/Russell Field every 25 minutes. From Davis Square and Medford Square, the 96 runs every 30 minutes.
Porter Station also has outdoor bike racks and a Bluebikes station.
Express shuttle from Harvard to South Station
The T runs an express shuttle between Harvard Station in Cambridge and South Station in Boston every 15 minutes during the shutdown. South Station is a red line stop that remains in service, so riders can connect there to the rest of the system.
The Harvard stop serves as a bus hub, with lines running in every direction. From the north come the 77 and 86, which also stop at Porter for the fare-free commuter rail. From Watertown and Belmont to the west come the 71, 73, 74 and 75. The 1 and 66 run south into Boston, and the 69 and 109 run east toward green line transfers.
Riders can also bike to Harvard using a Bluebike rental or a personal bike. Outdoor bike parking is available.
The express shuttle stops at Eliot and Bennett streets in Harvard Square and Gate 37 at South Station.
EZRide
Running between Cambridgeport and North Station, the EZRide Shuttle transports passengers every eight minutes during weekday rush hours. After Cambridgeport, the route passes through Kendall Square, East Cambridge and Lechmere before looping around at North Station. The service is free and available to everyone, even outside of red line shutdowns.
Free shuttle serving all stops
A free shuttle serves all stops between Alewife and Park Street. Riders using shuttle bus service should budget ample extra travel time. According to the MBTA, a rider traveling the full route should budget at least 70 minutes of travel time in addition to their regular commute.
Biking
Biking can be a solid option for many trips, and it is more popular now than ever in Cambridge, with 250 percent more bicycle trips in 2024 than in 2004.
One notable route is the Somerville Community Path. From Davis Square, a short five-minute ride along the tree-lined path gets riders to the Magoun Square green line station, where there’s a Bluebikes dock and pedal-and-park facilities for personal bikes. Register your CharlieCard online for access.
The path from Alewife involves a detour during the Linear Park Reconstruction Project, but the detour stays on neighborways with low car traffic.
Beyond Magoun Square, the path continues and runs along the Green Line Extension to Cambridge Crossing in the North Point neighborhood, after which riders can cross the Charles River Dam Bridge by the Museum of Science to enter Boston.
Another notable route is Porter Square to Kendall via Beacon Street and Hampshire Street. It’s a heavily biked route; people on bicycles made up 36 percent of all vehicles during peak traffic times in an April 2023 count by the city of Cambridge.
Another well-traveled route is the Charles River Bike Path, which connects Harvard, Cambridgeport and Kendall to Boston.
Bluebikes has offered ride-credit codes during previous shutdowns and is expected to do so again as the closing approaches.
For riders still getting comfortable navigating Cambridge and Somerville streets, several groups offer guided rides. One such group is the Boston Cafe Bikers, which hosts weekend rides to cafes and morning commuting rides from select locations.
Final tips
Think multimodal. Most T stations have bike parking, if not full pedal-and-park facilities. Biking to a station, locking up and returning to your bike in the evening can be a good strategy.
Try a route. With shuttles and more cars on the roads, even people who don’t usually take the T will be affected. Drivers looking to avoid the added traffic can take advantage of the alternate services too.
Park and ride. People who usually park at Alewife may find success at the orange line’s Wellington Station, which offers daily parking for $5. Many commuter rail stations also offer parking.
Bike activities calendar
Boston Cafe Bikers. Boston Cafe Bikers rides at 10 a.m. Saturday from Herter Park in Brighton to Jimmy’s Summer Cafe Pop-Up in Inman Square, Cambridge, to celebrate Philippines Independence Day. Free.
Cambridge On Road Skills Workshop. Designed for adults who know how to ride but want to build confidence for safety on city streets. At 10 a.m. Saturday at Sennott Park, Broadway at Norfolk Street, near Central Square, Cambridge. Free.
Intro to Bluebikes Group Ride. The Allston Brighton Health Collaborative has a short demo followed by a beginner-friendly group ride around the neighborhood. Pizza, helmets and Bluebikes coupons are free at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Herter Park Bluebikes station in Brighton. Free, but register.
Family Bike Ride. This sixth annual event is 9:30 a.m. Sunday with community, a safe, curated ride, playground, ice cream, crafts stations, face painting, nail painting, bubbles and outdoor play equipment. Parents must accompany children at all times. Donations encouraged.
For more Boston bike events, see bostonbikeevents.net. (No affiliation with The Independent.)
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