Orange Line Shutdown First Post-Labor Day Commute: 'So Far, So Good'

BOSTON, MA — State officials on Tuesday said the region’s first post-Labor Day commute amid the ongoing Orange Line shutdown went off without major issues, marking good news for local commuters as the shutdown continues into its third week.

Just under 60% of planned Orange Line maintenance was complete as of Tuesday morning, MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak told reporters during a press conference at the Community College T station.

Gov. Charlie Baker and MassDOT Secretary Jamey Tesler joined Poftak, commenting on recent maintenance progress while thanking work crews, riders and area community leaders involved in the shutdown to date.

“The progress is pretty much according to plan,” Baker said.

The Orange Line shutdown began on Aug. 19. Though the shutdown and its network of transit alternatives lengthened many commutes, Poftak said that he was “cautiously optimistic” about a lack of unforeseen disruptions after the first Monday of Orange Line shutdown commuting on Aug. 22.

Many state and local officials have similarly remained somewhat positive about the shutdown’s progress in days and weeks since. Labor Day loomed on the calendar, nonetheless, with some officials and community leaders warning about a possible uptick in congestion with back-to-school traffic and post-Labor Day commuting to and from Boston.

Though he said feedback was anecdotal to date, Poftak said things were “so far, so good” on Tuesday morning.

He said crews are continuing to monitor transit alternatives including shuttle bus and Commuter Rail service.

Some attention, Poftak added, remains on the planned first day of school for the Boston Public Schools on Thursday.

Officials said on Tuesday that the Orange Line shutdown and its associated maintenance projects appear on track to wrap up on schedule on Sept. 18.

Baker said, however, that there is still “a lot of work left to be done.”

In the meantime, Poftak responded to new questions about a rumored shutdown of the Red Line. Despite speculation among riders in recent weeks, Poftak said there are no plans to conduct a full shutdown of another MBTA line.

He said more traditional partial diversions remain on the table, though, especially as the MBTA looks to address a series of issues identified in a much-anticipated report from the Federal Transit Authority last week.