Medford Commuter Rail To Close For GLX Work

MEDFORD, MA — The Lowell Commuter Rail Line, which serves Medford, will close between Anderson/Woburn Station and North Station for nine days. There will be a weekend shuttle bus diversion in Lowell Line service from Anderson/Woburn to North Stations on May 16-17, followed by a week-long closure for Green Line Extension work from May 18-24.

Trains will be replaced by both a local shuttle bus and an express shuttle bus. Local shuttles will make all stops, except at Mishawum Station, and express shuttles will operate directly between Anderson/Woburn and North Stations.

Work will be done to the infrastructure inside the rail corridor shared by the Lowell Line and the GLX project. Two cross-track drainage lines will be installed beneath the Tufts Interlocking in Medford.

This work comes as part of the MBTA's plan to accelerate infrastructure projects in 2020. The shuttle plan includes measures to promote social distancing that protect transit workers and riders, and the MBTA will monitor ridership levels on the shuttle buses, adjusting service levels if needed.

Riders must wear face coverings while onboard shuttle buses. Additionally, to promote social distancing efforts and protect the health and safety of riders and bus drivers, ridership on shuttle buses will be limited. The MBTA will also keep a robust fleet of shuttles on standby to accommodate ridership demands as needed.

The GLX project, which is scheduled for completion in December 2021, will extend existing Green Line service north of Lechmere Station and into Somerville, Cambridge and Medford. The project involves construction of six new Green Line stations along two branches (the Medford Branch and Union Square Branch), along with the relocation and reconstruction of Lechmere Station.

For more information, please visit mbta.com/GLX, mbta.com/LWLwork, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.