It's a great time for a summer vacation if you're a Red Line commuter on the north side of the river. The MBTA has suspended subway service on its most popular line from Alfewife all the way to Park Street for the next 10 days — this morning through next Thursday (July 21-30). The closure allows crews to take on the "time consuming" task of replacing big chunks of concrete, known as floating slabs, that sit under the rails (plus a long list of other to-do items, like power washing stations and flying drones through the tunnels for fun mapping reasons). But in the meantime, it's a major interruption in the commute for thousands of Red Line riders, particularly in Cambridge and Somerville. Here are four ways to get around the closure (assuming you're not hopping in a car to face Boston traffic and $4-a-gallon gas): 1. Take a shuttle busFree shuttle buses will stop at all closed stations between Alewife and Park, every one-to-three minutes on weekdays and every two-to-five minutes on weekends, according to the T. But don't expect a particularly fast ride. The T estimates it will take over an hour to go between Alewife and Park on the shuttles. Even a shorter trip, like from Harvard to Park, will take over 30 minutes on the shuttles, according to the T's trip planner. - Express route: The T also plans to run an express shuttle every 15 minutes between Harvard and South Station, via the Mass. Pike. Depending on the time of day, expect that trip to take 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Take a bus to another subway lineWant to (partially) skip the traffic? Take a regular (not free) bus to connect to the Green Line Extension or even the Orange Line. From Davis to downtown Boston, it's actually a faster option than the shuttles, per the T. - Go deeper: From Davis to the Green Line, check out the 87, 88 and 89 bus schedules. From Harvard, look for the 69 or 109 bus. And from Central, grab the 91.
| A illustration of the Red Line closure between Alewife and Park Street and some of the alternate transit options. |
3. Hop on a bikeOur trusty bikeshare system Bluebikes is once again offering free rides during the diversion. Just enter the code BLUECROSSMBTA26 in the their app's "Rewards" section for a $10 credit. Or take your own bike! - Psst: This might be your fastest option. According to Google Maps, the nearly five-mile ride from Davis to Park takes about 30 minutes via the Somerville Community Path. (Maybe even faster if you score an electric Bluebike.)
4. Try the commuter railA potentially good option if you live near Porter Square. The MBTA is making the Fitchburg commuter rail line free between Porter and North Station during the diversion. It's a quick, 15-minute ride — but trains only come every 45 to 60 minutes. Check out the schedule here. In other news: Meanwhile in Cambridge: The Trump administration has opened yet another front in its ongoing battle with Harvard. The Justice Department announced yesterday that it is investigating whether the school is allowing Chinese donors to fund scholarships that exclude American students — and whether that could amount to illegal discrimination based on country of origin. The Associated Press has more details on the unusual legal argument the new inquiry makes here. In the Seaport: A free shuttle service is coming to Boston's Seaport later this month — though only for employees of certain businesses. The Seaport Transportation Management Association announced yesterday that the "Go Loop" will let certain employees request an electric vehicle from South Station and five other designated stops around the Seaport from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. (The group described the shuttle as a pilot program, but did not say how long it will run.) - During the pilot, the shuttles will only be available via an app to employees of Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Seaport shops and restaurants in spaces owned by WS Development.
Closing time: Boston's only REI outlet officially has a closing date. The outdoor goods retailer said yesterday that its Fenway location will close for good on Aug. 13 after a 23-year run. (For what it's worth, that's the Thursday after this year's sales tax holiday weekend in Massachusetts.) - The news comes after REI closed its store in Cambridge in 2025. The chain still has other locations in Reading, Hingham and Framingham.
P.S.— After last night's electric win over the Baltimore Orioles, the red-hot Red Sox have now won 14 straight games. That's one win away from the franchise's 80-year-old record. Another win tonight would be something the Sox haven't done since Ted Williams was on the team. | 
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