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MBTA Green Line C Branch bypasses Hawes Street for accessibility upgrades

MBTA Green Line C Branch bypasses Hawes Street for accessibility upgrades

Built World Boston, MA local

A nine-day C Branch shutdown begins November 7 as Brookline stations are rebuilt for wheelchair access

4 days ago: C Branch closes for nine days

Overview

Updated 5 days ago

Green Line C Branch trains are skipping Hawes Street in Brookline through November 7 while crews rebuild the platform for wheelchair access. That same day, the C Branch through Brookline closes for nine days, with shuttle buses replacing trains between Cleveland Circle and Back Bay through November 15.

The shutdown covers signal work and station accessibility upgrades along Beacon Street. Fairbanks Street station closes permanently and is consolidated with the rebuilt Brandon Hall stop. After trains return November 16, inbound trains will skip Hawes Street and Summit Avenue through December 10.

Why it matters

Riders who use wheelchairs still can't board at many old Boston stations; the C Branch rebuild adds step-free platforms stop by stop.

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Key Indicators

9 days
C Branch shutdown
Trains replaced by shuttles between Cleveland Circle and Back Bay, Nov. 7–15.
1 station
Fairbanks Street closed permanently
Consolidated with the rebuilt Brandon Hall stop.
2 stations
C Branch stations reopened with accessible platforms
Englewood and Tappan opened in July 2026; more stations follow.
Spring 2027
Target for substantial completion
All Beacon Street corridor stations rebuilt or consolidated for accessibility by spring 2027.

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Organizations Involved

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Transit agency
Running the C Branch accessibility upgrades and a nine-day branch shutdown starting Nov. 7

Boston-area public transit agency operating the subway, bus, and commuter rail networks.
Town of Brookline, Massachusetts
Town of Brookline, Massachusetts
Local government
Coordinating with MBTA on design review, permitting, and public engagement

Brookline's Department of Public Works coordinates with the MBTA on the station project.
JB
Jacobs-Barletta
Design-build contractor
Design-build team executing the C Branch construction

Design-build contractor hired by the MBTA to deliver the C Branch accessibility project.

Timeline

April 2026 November 2026

9 events Latest: 4 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Hawes and Summit inbound stops bypassed

    Upcoming Service change

    Inbound trains skip Hawes Street and Summit Avenue for 25 days through Dec. 10; riders use nearby stops.

  2. C Branch closes for nine days

    Latest Service change

    Trains are replaced by free shuttles between Cleveland Circle and Back Bay through Nov. 15 for signal and accessibility work. Shuttles do not serve Saint Mary's Street, Kent Street or Brandon Hall.

  3. Fairbanks Street station closes permanently

    Service change

    The MBTA consolidates Fairbanks Street with the rebuilt Brandon Hall stop, reachable from the old Fairbanks location by an accessible ramp and walkway.

  4. Hawes Street outbound platform bypassed

    Service change

    Outbound trains skip Hawes Street through November 7; nearest stops are a 4-to-6-minute walk away.

  5. MBTA details September service changes

    Announcement

    Agency says Brandon Hall work continues and Dean Road work begins; Green Line signal upgrades also proceed.

  6. Second week-long C Branch shutdown

    Construction

    Shuttle bus service runs August 8–16; crews install precast tactile edge units at Hawes, St. Paul, Summit, and Brandon Hall.

  7. Englewood and Tappan platforms open

    Milestone

    New accessible platforms at the two stations open, with median parking restored; finish work continues.

  8. First week-long C Branch shutdown

    Construction

    Rail service replaced by shuttles for 12 days; 24/7 work focuses on Englewood, Dean, Tappan, and Summit stations.

  9. C Branch accessibility construction launches

    Construction

    Crews begin platform demolition and reconstruction along Beacon Street the week after the Boston Marathon.

Scenarios

1

Hawes Street reopens on schedule

Likely Resolves by Nov 14, 2026

Discussed by: MBTA project schedule; Brookline town updates

Crews finish the outbound platform rebuild by November 7, but the branch closes for nine days that day. Trains are scheduled to resume stopping at Hawes when service returns November 16.

2

C Branch project completes on time in spring 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: MBTA project announcements; Brookline DPW

All Beacon Street corridor stations reach substantial completion by spring 2027. The schedule relies on multi-day rail shutdowns, including the nine-day closure set for November 7–15, 2026, plus daytime work at remaining stations.

3

Project delay pushes completion past spring 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Riders and local officials; history of MBTA project overruns

Construction slips past the spring 2027 target, extending station bypasses into late 2027 or beyond. Weather windows, materials delivery, or permitting issues around the remaining stations could push the finish line. The Hawes U-turn alternatives analysis and public hearing process also add uncertainty to the timeline.

4

Platforms Need to Be Raised Again for Type 10 Cars

Likely Resolves by Dec 1, 2027

Discussed by: Boston Globe reporting on MBTA accessibility plans

The Globe reported that the platforms being built now are 8 inches high, designed for the current Green Line fleet. The incoming Type 10 supercars will need 14-inch platforms for level boarding, meaning another round of construction and service disruptions after the spring 2027 completion.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

July 1990

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA, making it illegal for public transit systems to deny access to people with disabilities. Boston's subway opened in 1897, nearly a century before wheelchair access became a legal requirement.

Then

Transit agencies began adding elevators and ramps, but retrofitting century-old stations is slow and expensive.

Now

Three and a half decades later, many of Boston's oldest stations still lack step-free access, which is why projects like the C Branch retrofit remain necessary.

Why this matters now

The Hawes Street platform rebuild is a direct application of the ADA's mandate to a station built long before accessibility rules existed.

2026–2029

Symphony Station closure (2026–2029)

The MBTA closed Symphony Station on the Green Line E Branch for major accessibility upgrades — four new elevators, raised platforms, accessible bathrooms, and improved lighting. The 85-year-old station is expected to reopen in spring 2029.

Then

Riders detour to nearby stations or the parallel Route 39 bus for years.

Now

When complete, Symphony will be fully step-free and set the template for other Green Line stations.

Why this matters now

It shows the range of accessibility work: a few weeks to rebuild one platform at Hawes, three years for a full station renovation at Symphony.

Sources

(10)
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MBTA Town of Brookline, MA The Boston Globe Brookline Record Streetsblog Massachusetts MBTA MBTA MBTA MBTA MBTA