The MBTA will suspend underground Green Line service across all four branches serving Brookline on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, forcing riders onto free shuttle buses and fare-free alternatives for the weekend.
The shutdown affects the B Branch between Government Center and Babcock Street, the C Branch between Government Center and Kenmore, the D Branch between North Station and Kenmore, and the E Branch between Heath Street and North Station, according to a service advisory posted Monday, July 27, on the website of State Sen. Will Brownsberger's office. Brownsberger represents the Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District, which includes Brookline.
The MBTA has not specified what infrastructure work requires the weekend closure.
Shuttle buses and alternatives
Free shuttle buses will run for the B Branch between Babcock Street and Back Bay, for the C Branch between Cleveland Circle and Back Bay, and for the D Branch between Kenmore and Back Bay. On the E Branch, Route 39 buses will replace Green Line service between Heath Street and Back Bay, with extra buses added for capacity.
Accessible van service will be available for E Branch stops between Copley/Back Bay and North Station.
C Branch riders should note that shuttles will not stop at Saint Mary's Street, Kent Street, or Brandon Hall. Riders at those stops will need to walk to the nearest available shuttle stop.
All riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay for continued service through downtown toward North Station.
Fare relief
Fare gates at Kenmore Station will be open, making rides free for B, C, and D Branch riders. Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Kenmore and at Riverside on the D Branch. Route 57 bus service between Kenmore and Watertown Yard will be fare-free, as will Route 39 on the E Branch. The Worcester Commuter Rail Line will be fare-free between South Station, Back Bay, and Lansdowne.
C Branch stop bypasses already underway
The weekend shutdown is the most dramatic disruption, but C Branch riders are already dealing with a longer-running change. Inbound service at the Summit Avenue street-level stop has been bypassed since Monday, July 20, and will remain bypassed through Friday, August 7.
A second, longer bypass begins Monday, August 17: the Brandon Hall stop will be skipped in both directions through Sunday, October 4. That closure is tied to the MBTA's C Branch Station Accessibility Project, which is rebuilding nine stations along Beacon Street to comply with ADA requirements. The project will consolidate Fairbanks Street station into Brandon Hall as a single accessible stop and is expected to decrease travel time by 3 to 7 percent once complete.
Budget extra time
During a nine-day B Branch shutdown from Wednesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 30, the MBTA advised shuttle riders to budget at least 45 additional minutes of travel time. The agency has not issued a specific time estimate for this weekend's disruption.
Brookline Select Board member John VanScoyoc voiced frustration with the pace of Green Line work on Wednesday, May 13, writing on X:
@johnvanscoyoc: "When did we normalize the MBTA closing a Green Line stop for THREE YEARS to add elevators and 'other amenities'? Shouldn't the stop's accessibility failings lend some urgency to this project?"
His comment referred to Symphony Station on the E Branch, which closed Saturday, June 6, and will remain closed until spring 2029 for accessibility upgrades.
Riders can sign up for T-Alerts at alerts.mbta.com or follow @MBTA on X for real-time updates on service changes.
