City of Cambridge seal and the text CCPD: Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities. AccessLetter: News and Information for the Access-Minded
Want to Join our Advisory Board?
Apply by Monday, February 5!
Are you a Cambridge resident interested in making Cambridge more accessible to people with all types of disabilities? City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking applicants for two openings on our CCPD Advisory Board.

We meet from 5:30-7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, currently via Zoom. CCPD Advisory Board members work on projects of interest in small working groups as needed. It's a great opportunity to provide disability-related feedback on various City projects and programs! Apply by Monday, February 5th.
February MBTA Red Line Closures
As part of the MBTA's Track Improvement Program, there will be multiple Red Line closures throughout the year, beginning in February. Expect longer-than-usual travel times when driving, taking shuttles, riding buses, and traveling.
Line diagram of the red line closure from Alewife to Harvard and then Alewife to Park St after eight forty five PM
Monday, February 5 - Wednesday, February 14
Free shuttles will replace regular Red Line trains:
  • All day between Alewife and Harvard Square. Shuttles will stop at Alewife, Davis, Porter, and Harvard. 
  • After 8:45 p.m. between Alewife and Park Street. Shuttles will stop at Alewife, Davis, Porter, Harvard, Central, Kendall/MIT, Charles/MGH, and Park Street.  
  • The Porter Commuter Rail Station will remain open, and rides between Porter and North Station will be free during the closures.

Saturday, February 24 - Sunday, 25
  • Free shuttles will replace Red Line trains between Harvard and Broadway all day on Saturday and Sunday
  • Shuttles will stop at Harvard, Central, Kendall/MIT, Charles/MGH, Park Street, Downtown Crossing, South Station, and Broadway
  • The Porter Commuter Rail Station will remain open, and rides between Porter and North Station will be free during the closures.
Accessibility Options during Red Line Closures
  • All Shuttles will be ADA accessible
  • The MBTA is hiring private bus companies to provide shuttle service. This means they may not look like regular MBTA buses.
  • All shuttle buses will have a low floor and a ramp at the front of the bus or have a lift at the rear entrance of the bus
  • If you are unable to use the standard shuttle bus because of your disability, ask an MBTA employee to call for a RIDE van. There will be 2 wheelchair accessible vans from The RIDE available to provide shuttle service between closed stations. 

  • MBTA employees can help: MBTA workers wearing red coats will be available at all of the closed stations to provide assistance.  They can: 1) Provide sighted guide to/from shuttles and stations 2) Help you find a seat on a vehicle 3) Help you request accessible vans 5) Answer any questions you have

  • The RIDE: The RIDE will continue to be available to passengers with disabilities who are currently enrolled with The RIDE. Enrolled members may call 844-427-7433 (MA Relay 711) to schedule The RIDE. People with disabilities that prevent them from using the standard, fixed route MBTA services may apply for The RIDE.

If you need to request a reasonable accommodation, call MBTA Customer Support at 617-222-3200. For questions about accessibility for disabled passengers, email the MBTA Department of System-Wide Accessibility.
Are you registered to vote?
REV UP! Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power! Make the Disability Vote count
2024 is a very important election year. Start planning to make sure your vote is counted! Here are important deadlines to vote in the Presidential Primary on March 5:

  • Voter registration deadline: February 24

  • Vote by Mail application deadline: February 27

  • In-Person early voting: February 24 - March 1

  • Election Day (March 5): Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

  • Check your voter registration status, apply to vote by mail, and learn about early in-person voting options on the Cambridge Election Commission's website.
Upcoming Meetings
Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities Meeting
Thursday, February 8, 5:30 - 7 p.m. via Zoom (register here)
Join us at our Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities meeting. The meeting will be held on Zoom and CART / closed captioning will be provided.
The Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities works to reduce and eliminate the barriers that people with disabilities experience in our community.