MBTA Red Line service is suspended these July weekends

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) reminds T users that Red Line service between Alewife and JFK/UMass stations will be suspended two weekends this month.

The Red Line service outage is scheduled for this weekend (July 13 and 14) and the weekend of July 27 and 28. During this time, shuttle buses will be offered between Alewife and Kendall/MIT and will “stop at all stations” between Alewife and Park Street, the MBTA said.

An additional local shuttle bus service will stop at all closed stations between Park Street and JFK/UMass. Riders traveling beyond Park Street in either direction will need to transfer between these shuttle services at Park Street, the MBTA said.

“The shuttle service has been designed in this way to efficiently move the shuttle buses through traffic, utilize existing shuttle schedules from previous shutdowns, and best manage the duration of the shutdown,” the website states.

The goal of the service stoppage is to allow workers to lay 3.4 miles of new track so that seven-speed restrictions can be lifted on this busy corridor, the MBTA said on its website. During the stoppage, 5 miles of old track will be removed.

“This decision was made following a thorough review of the work required and the logistical challenges resulting from recent night-time preparatory work for work during the outage,” the website said.

Those who want to travel by commuter rail do not have to worry about paying a fare between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass and South Station. Outside of Braintree, regular fares still apply.

The MBTA also recommends that passengers use the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line, which runs free between Porter Station and North Station. Regular tickets must be purchased from Porter.

Bus route 77 is free within Cambridge.