MBTA Addresses Orange Line Letter From Melrose, Malden, Medford Mayors

MELROSE, MA — An MBTA spokesperson responded on Friday to a recent letter from mayors in Melrose, Malden and Medford asking for express shuttle bus service to Boston and increased train frequency on the Commuter Rail’s Haverhill Line ahead of this month’s looming Orange Line shutdown.

In a statement to Patch, the spokesperson said the agency “understands and appreciates that this diversion will be an inconvenience for commuters.”

“That's why the T is working closely with its municipal partners to develop viable and effective alternatives,” the spokesperson continued.

Paul Brodeur of Melrose, Gary Christenson of Malden and Breanna Lungo-Koehn of Medford each signed their letter on Thursday, specifically calling for express shuttle buses from the Oak Grove, Malden Center and Wellington Orange Line stations into downtown Boston.

They also asked for more trains on the Commuter Rail to help manage an expected surge in Commuter Rail ridership with the Orange Line temporarily off the table.

The MBTA has already promised some shuttle bus service between Oak Grove and downtown Boston. It is also rolling out accommodations to allow riders in Commuter Rail zones 1, 1a and 2 to ride the train simply by showing a Charlie Card or Charlie Ticket.

Some specifics of the shuttle bus plan, in particular, remained to be determined as of Thursday morning, however.

The MBTA, in its statement, said it is working with Keolis, which operates the Commuter Rail, to finalize special Commuter Rail schedules.

Those will be posted as soon as they are completed, the MBTA said.

These developments and the local push by north-of-Boston mayors comes on the heels of an unprecedented announcement by state officials this week that the Orange Line will shut down from Aug. 19 through Sept. 18.

The closure, which is impacting the MBTA’s second busiest subway line in terms of ridership, aims to accelerate needed safety work in the wake of a federal investigation into issues within the MBTA system.

MBTA officials have promised a safer, more reliable and more enjoyable Orange Line experience when the trains reopen in September.

The closure and the rollout of shutdown plans, however, has drawn criticism from some local leaders, some of whom have criticized decisions that they said led to this point.

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Mayors Sign Letter To MBTA Ahead Of Orange Line Shutdown