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Boston's Morning Newsletter
How to get around the 10-day Orange Line closure from Medford to Back Bay
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
The Celtics are going to the NBA Finals. After finishing their sweep of the Indiana Pacers last night, the C’s have some time to relax before Game 1 of the Finals next Thursday on June 6. (They’ll likely face the Dallas Mavericks — and old friend Kyrie Irving — who are up 3-0 in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.)
But first, let’s get to the news.
Orange Line riders, you’re up again: The biggest Orange Line diversion since the full month-long shutdown of 2022 has begun. As part of its War on Slow Zones, the MBTA has suspended train service from Medford’s Wellington station all the way to Back Bay, today through June 6. The 10-day disruption is the second time this month the T has suspended a downtown swath of one of its subway lines, following a nine-day partial Red Line closure. Here’s how to get around it:
- Between Wellington and North Station: Free shuttle buses will stop at all closed stations. Give yourself extra time, especially during rush-hour traffic. The T is also making the Haverhill commuter rail line free between North Station and Oak Grove, with a stop at Malden Center. That’s a faster, if less frequent, option. (Just keep in mind, midday inbound trains on the line are being diverted, due to overlapping track work.)
- Between North Station and Back Bay: Take the Green Line. There’ll be no shuttles for this downtown stretch. Plus, the Green Line runs parallel from North Station to Copley, which is a five-minute walk from Back Bay. The T is also running more Green Line trains to accommodate the increase in riders and leaving fare gates open at North Station and Copley (inbound only).
- Bluebikes is also offering five free rides during the diversion to those who don’t already have a membership. Just enter the code “MBTAORANGEMAY” in the mobile app. Click here for details.
- Why is the closure necessary? It’s not just track work. The diversion north of North Station is because of a MassDOT project on two bridges near Sullivan Square. Meanwhile, crews will be working to replace tracks, lift slow zones and clean up stations along the closed underground stretch downtown.
South Shore stabbing spree: A Martha’s Vineyard man is due in court today, facing charges for two separate stabbings over Memorial Day weekend. Prosecutors say 26-year-old Jared Ravizza stabbed four girls without warning at a movie theater in Braintree, following a similar attack on two adults at a McDonald’s in Plymouth on Saturday. (None suffered life-threatening injuries.)
- Ravizza, who was arrested Saturday night after a police pursuit, faces several charges, including assault with intent to murder.
Headed to the beach? Gloucester has a new reservation system to address some frustrations from last summer. The new Blinkay app requires out-of-towners to pay to reserve parking spots up to 10 days in advance at popular spots, like Good Harbor and Wingaersheek beaches. It also allows users to cancel their booking and get a credit for a future visit if they decide not to go due to bad weather. Mayor Greg Varga told WBUR’s Dan Guzman the new system is a “good compromise” that lets both residents and non-residents enjoy Gloucester’s beaches.
- That’s not the only update: Gloucester also added mobility mats and beach wheelchairs at Good Harbor and Wingaersheek. Varga says they are a “significant step toward making our community more inclusive.”
PSA: It’s “trash amnesty week” in Brookline. Today through Saturday, residents enrolled in the city’s trash pickup service can put out extra waste without incurring a fee for overflow trash bags.
- Reminder: You still have to schedule pickup for bulky items, like furniture and mattresses, in advance.
P.S.— The Celtics weren’t the only local team celebrating this weekend. PWHL Boston staved off elimination in a tense, double-overtime 1-0 win Sunday over Minnesota, sending the battle for the first-ever Walter Cup to a fifth and final game tomorrow night at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. Watch the highlights of the dramatic Game 4 finish, from Minnesota’s overturned cup-winning goal to Alina Muller’s actual winner literally seconds later.
Associate producer Hanna Ali contributed to today's newsletter.
