MBTA completes Orange Line track, station improvement project

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) last week completed station and track improvement work on the Orange Line.

During four weekends, MBTA crews replaced about 1,400 feet of track, including 1,040 feet at North Station, 150 feet at State Station and 204 feet at Haymarket Station, MBTA officials said in a press release.

Crews also repaired platform edges at five stations, replaced 240 linear feet of ties, overhauled fare gates at four stations and repaired stairs at two stations.

The work is part of the agency’s $8 billion, five-year infrastructure investment program to expedite core system improvements.

“Through these four weekend diversions on the Orange Line, the MBTA was able to make system investments resulting in noticeable improvements in service that would otherwise have taken over five months under traditional methods,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak.

Also last week, MBTA crews began maintenance and replacement of the floating slab track system on the Red Line. Floating slabs are concrete slabs that "float" between the tracks and rubber disks that absorb sound and vibration from trains, MBTA officials said.

The work requires weekend train service to be replaced by shuttle buses through April. Future floating slab maintenance likely will occur during overnight hours to minimize the impact on Red Line service, officials said.