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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.
Biking or walking to your destination will help keep roads clear of vehicles.
Cyclists and pedestrians 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.
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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