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Check the MBTA service alerts webpage for the most up-to-date information on MBTA closures.
Following the MBTA’s Track Improvement Program, the MBTA continues to invest in the Red Line through ongoing maintenance and infrastructure renewal work. Upcoming projects include track and signal upgrades, floating slab replacement, and other critical improvements that help preserve the system’s long-term reliability and safety. When future Red Line service changes are announced, the City of Cambridge will use this page to share information and travel resources for those moving through the city.
During closures, expect longer-than-usual travel times in all modes: driving, taking shuttles, riding buses, and traveling on open sections of the Red Line.
Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street for 10 consecutive days this July, from Tuesday, July 21 through Thursday, July 30, 2026. Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace and make all stops between Alewife and Park Street.
The City of Cambridge anticipates significant impacts to travel throughout the region during the closure and encourages residents, employees, and visitors to plan ahead, consider alternative travel options when possible, and allow additional time for their commutes.
The service suspension will allow the MBTA to complete critical infrastructure upgrades, track renewal, signal improvements, and other revitalization work along the Red Line. According to the MBTA, this regular, planned renewal and revitalization work is ongoing and continuous, ensuring the long-term stability of MBTA infrastructure and preserving the system for future generations of riders.
Image Above: Map from the MBTA of upcoming Red Line service impacts. Affected stations are Alewife, Davis, Porter, Harvard, Central, Kendall/MIT, Charles/MGH, and Park Street.
Residents, workers, visitors should consider the following on days with Red Line closures:
Telework or alternative schedules, if available
Alternative MBTA routes or the EZRide between Lechmere and Kendall/MIT
Making a trip by bicycling or walking
Visiting or staying local
Planning for longer trips for everybody as people will be seeking alternatives to their routine travels
Riders using shuttle buses during these service changes should allow extra travel time. For example, a rider traveling from Alewife to Park Street should plan for at least 70 minutes of travel time using shuttle bus service.
The City encourages cyclists and pedestrians to use extra caution around shuttle buses and along shuttle routes. Shuttle service may include a combination of MBTA buses and larger chartered buses. Chartered buses often require wider turning movements, take longer to maneuver, and may have larger blind spots than standard MBTA buses.
Email publicengagement@mbta.com or call 617-222-3200.
For the most up-to-date information on alternate routes, options, and news, visit the MBTA’s page.
Plan for longer-than-usual trips during this time, whether you are driving, taking shuttles, riding the bus, or traveling on other parts of the Red Line.
Plan for:
The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Porter Square and North Station during the 2026 closure. Riders should note that regular fares should be purchased beyond Porter Square.
In addition to MBTA shuttle buses, the EZRide Shuttle provides another transit option, with connections between Kendall Square, Lechmere, North Station, Central Square, and Community College, including weekend service between the Red and Green Lines.
Biking is a fun and sustainable alternative to transit. During the July 2026 Red Line closure, the Cambridge Department of Transportation (DOT) is offering free guided Community Commuter Group Bike Rides to help people get around Cambridge.
Volunteer ride leaders will guide groups along routes that pass by Alewife, Porter, Harvard, Central, and Kendall Squares at a leisurely pace on streets with either low traffic or separated bike lanes. All community members are invited to join!
When: Weekday mornings (July 20–24 and July 27–31), meeting times between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. (see schedule below).
Where: Meet at the Alewife Bluebikes Station at Steel Place, unless otherwise noted below.
Look for volunteer bike ride leaders wearing fluorescent vests at the starting location.
Most rides will travel from Alewife to Kendall Square, passing near Porter, Harvard, and Central Squares.
The complete ride from Alewife to Kendall/MIT takes approximately 45 minutes.
What to bring: Your bike, water to stay hydrated, and yourself.
No experience or RSVP required.
Biking or walking to your destination will help keep roads clear of vehicles.
People walking and biking should be extra cautious around shuttle buses and on shuttle routes.
Shuttle buses will be a mix of MBTA buses and larger buses. Chartered buses will move differently than MBTA buses: they are often taller, take longer to turn, and swing wider to make turns. Because some shuttle buses are not regular city buses, shuttle drivers have a harder time seeing cyclists and people on sidewalks. The City of Cambridge has requested that shuttle drivers receive information and training about sharing the street with people on bikes.
Need a bike? Consider riding Bluebikes, Metro Boston's public bike-share system with 96 stations in Cambridge and the option to choose a classic pedal bike or an e-bike. For non-members, both classic bikes and e-bikes cost $3.00 to unlock. Classic bikes include 30 free minutes of ride time. If you need more time, you can continue riding a classic bike for $0.33 per minute. E-bikes also cost $0.33 per minute and do not include free ride time. Bluebikes also offers a day pass option with reduced fees and longer classic bike ride times.
Bluebikes offers a variety of membership options, including monthly, annual, and income-eligible memberships. Members receive longer classic bike ride times and reduced per-minute fees. Discounted income-eligible memberships are available for people who participate in qualifying government assistance programs.
Visit Bluebikes Pricing for details on pricing options. Learn more about the Income-Eligible Bluebikes Membership Program.
New to riding a bike? Find tips for safe travel here or read the Cambridge Street Code here.
Riders are also encouraged to utilize existing Bus Routes 69, 87, 88, 89, 91, and 109 from Davis Square, Harvard Square, and Central Square to connect with the Green Line’s Medford/Tufts and Union Square branches as an alternative way to travel to Park Street.
Use the MBTA Trip Planner to figure out your route.
We expect increased traffic on Cambridge roads from the addition of shuttle buses and extra drivers. If you can, avoid adding extra traffic to the roads by taking transit, walking, biking, or working from home.
If you drive:
During the Red Line closures, employers should strongly consider:
In-Person:
Transit Ambassadors and other MBTA personnel will be available to assist riders throughout the Red Line. Transit Ambassadors wear bright red shirts or jackets with T logos.
By Phone:
Contact MBTA’s Customer Support Center by calling 617-222-3200 (MA Relay 711). Customer support representatives speak English and Spanish and have access to interpreter services in more than 160 languages.
By Email:
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