MBTA Service Changes with the Most Impact on Cambridge
December 22, 2020

The Alewife TMA has compiled a summary of the MBTA service cuts that were approved by the MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) on December  14, 2020. The reductions are being made based on an 80% drop in ridership due to the pandemic. Although these cuts are not as severe as originally proposed by the MBTA in early November, they are significant. According to the MBTA, most of theses changes are not intended to be permanent and they will resume service as demand increases and there is revenue and funding to support it.

Below are the service changes that will have the most impact on Cambridge, MA.

The full list of changes, system wide, can be found at https://www.mbta.com/forging-ahead


Cambridge bus routes to be suspended effective March 2021:

  • 68 - Harvard Square to MIT/Kendal Station
  • 72 – Aberdeen Avenue to Harvard Station
  • 79 – Arlington Heights to Alewife Station
  • 80 - Arlington Center to Lechmere Station
  • 351 – Oak Park/Bedford Woods to Alewife Station


Cambridge bus route to be consolidated effective March 2021:

  • Consolidate Routes 78 and 84 (Arlmont Village to Harvard Station and Arlmont Village to Alewife Station)
  • Consolidate Routes 62 & 76 (Bedford VA Hospital to Alewife Station and Hanscom Air Force Base to Alewife Station)


Cambridge bus routes with 20% reduction in frequency effective Spring 2021:

  • 70 - Waltham Center to University Park
  • 71 - Watertown Square - Harvard Station
  • 73 - Waverley Square - Harvard Station
  • 74 - Belmont Center - Harvard via Concord Avenue
  • 75 - Belmont Center - Harvard via Huron Avenue
  • 77 - Arlington Heights - Harvard Station
  • 78 - Arlmont Village - Harvard Station
  • 87 - Clarendon Hill or Arlington Center - Lechmere Station
  • 96 - Medford Square - Harvard Station
  • 350 - North Burlington - Alewife Station


Cambridge bus routes with 5% reduction in frequency effective Spring 2021:

  • 1 – Harvard Square to Nubian Station
  • 47 - Central Square, Cambridge - Broadway Station
  • 66 – Harvard Square to Nubian Station
  • 83 - Rindge Avenue - Central Square
  • 85 - Spring Hill - Kendall/MIT Station
  • 86 - Sullivan Square Station - Reservoir Station
  • 91 - Sullivan Square Station - Central Square, Cambridge
  • CT2 - Sullivan Square Station - Ruggles Station


Subway - effective March 2021:

Frequency will be reduced by 20% on the Red, Green and Orange lines - this means that during peak travel, the wait time between trains will increase to 5 ½ minutes from the current 4 ½ minutes. Frequency on the blue line will be reduced by 5%.


Commuter Rail - changes starting as early as January 2021:

Service on all commuter rail lines will be reduced. On weekdays, service will be end at 9 pm. In January, weekend service will be suspended the Fitchburg Line serving Belmont and the Lowell Line serving West Medford. Five stations (none in the greater Boston area) will close due to low ridership and available alternatives.


The Ferry - changes starting as early as January 2021:

Charlestown service will be suspended. Direct service Boston-Hingham will be suspended. Hingham/Hull service will be reduced.


The Ride - effective Spring 2021:

Some trips will need to be booked 40 minutes ahead of time vs. the current 30 minutes. In addition, some RIDE trips may become premium trips, though the RIDE service boundaries would not change, and the premium service hours will be adjusted to match Commuter Rail hours of operation. These changes are expected to become effective in spring.

Search Your Best Transportation Options with eCommuter.org

Commuters of the Alewife TMA can use Commute Match on eCommuter to explore all their transportation options in one place. Commute Match is a flexible tool that helps you to design a commute that best meets your needs and schedule. Find others who live and work nearby that also want to share the ride to work. 


Use Commute Match to search for:

  • carpool partners
  • vanpool groups
  • nearby park-n-rides
  • bike buddies
  • public transit trip planning
  • bike route planning
Register/Login to Get Started
March 18, 2025
2024 has been a year of progress for sustainable commuting in our community! From reducing carbon footprints to expanding commuting options, Alewife TMA has made meaningful strides—thanks to our engaged members, partners, and commuters like you. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2025! 
By Hanna Morris February 4, 2025
Alewife TMA Commuter Spotlight: Sitaram Meena, PhD
By Hanna Morris August 27, 2024
No Red Line Service Between JFK/UMass & Braintree, Sep 6–29 Free Shuttle Buses: During the shutdown, free shuttle buses will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont. Commuter Rail will be FREE between Braintree and South Station: Use the Middleborough/Lakeville and Kingston lines for service from Braintree. Use the Middleborough/Lakeville, Kingston, and Greenbush lines for service from Quincy Center (except for during the weekend closures). MBTA personnel will be available to assist riders. Commuter Rail Weekend Closures: The weekends of September 7th–8th and 14th–15th Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail service will be suspended between South Station and Braintree. Shuttles will run directly between South Staton and Braintree. At Quincy Center use Red Line Shuttle to Braintree to Connect to South Station. MBTA officials say once the track work is completed, it will improve round-trip Braintree Branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes, running service up to the maximum allowable speed of 40 miles per hour. For the latest information, we suggest the following resources: Visit camb.ma/redline for additional transit options during Red Line closures. Visit mbta.com/redline for the most up-to-date information during the closures. Visit mbtaclosures.com for information on all MBTA closures.
By Melissa Zampitella July 12, 2024
Beginning at 8:15 PM on Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 28 there will be no Red Line trains running between Alewife Station and Kendall/MIT Station. The following options will be available: Free shuttle buses will make stops at all closed stations Express shuttle buses will stop at only Alewife, Porter, and Kendall/MIT A Shuttle Loop will operate from Harvard to Central to Kendall/MIT and back to Harvard. Free Commuter Rail between Porter Square and North Station plus an extra shuttle train (doubling Commuter Rail service) Five Free Bluebikes rides with code: MBTAREDJULY MBTA Bus #77 (Arlington Heights – Harvard) will be fare-free within Cambridge On weekdays evenings after 8:30 PM the closure will extend to Park Street (Boston) – no red line service between Alewife and Park Street Shuttle buses will stop at all stations between Alewife and Part Street. On Weekends: July 13-14 : the closure will extend to JFK/UMASS – no service between Alewife and JFK/UMASS July 20-21 : the closure will extend to Park Street (Boston) – no service between Alewife and Park Street July 27-28: the closure will extend to JFK/UMASS – no service between Alewife and JFK/UMASS  Shuttle buses will stop at all closed stations. Note : Riders needing to go beyond Park Street will need to transfer to another shuttle at Park Street to go on to JFK/UMASS. The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station. Regular fares should be purchased beyond Braintree. The important thing to keep in mind is that there will be shuttle buses at all locations where Red Line service is closed. There will be signage and MBTA staff to assist riders in getting where they need to go. Below are a few good resources to find the most up-to-date information. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. For the latest information, we suggest the following resources: Visit camb.ma/redline for additional transit options during Red Line closures. Visit mbta.com/redline for the most up-to-date information during the closures. Visit mbtaclosures.com for information on all MBTA closures
June 3, 2024
Commuter Spotlight: Red Line Rider
May 2, 2024
Get Ready to Ride: Bike Month is Here! Spring is in full bloom! The days are longer, tulips are popping up, and if you have allergies, you might be sneezing a bit more. But there's good news for cyclists: the warmer weather means it's time to get back on the road. May is National Bike Month , and there's plenty to be excited about for bike enthusiasts in Massachusetts. What is Bike Month? National Bike Month , established in 1956, is all about celebrating the joy of cycling, promoting its health benefits, and encouraging more people to give it a try. A key part of this celebration is Bike to Work Week, which falls in the third week of May, with Bike to Work Day on the Friday of that week. This year, Bike to Work Week is from May 13 to 19, with Bike to Work Day on May 17. What's Happening in Massachusetts for Bike Month? Massachusetts is a great place to be if you love biking, and Bay State Bike Month , hosted by MassBike , has a full schedule of events to keep you moving. If you're looking for group rides or ways to get involved, this is your go-to resource.
February 21, 2024
We all know the question, “what’s in it for me?” It’s the eternal quandary that all marketers are on a mission to answer. If they can explain what’s in for me to do or buy something, their job is done. But what if we rolled that question on its head and asked, “what’s in it for you, and me, and even them? When it comes to a green or sustainable commute, there happens to be a LOT it in for you, me, your neighbor and the person who sits across from you on the T. For you, it’s more convenient and economical way to commute. For your neighbor or the person across from you on the T, you are helping the environment and reducing traffic congestion by using a sustainable travel mode and NOT driving alone in a car. For that action, we at the Alewife TMA believe you should be rewarded.
January 29, 2024
Thank you to our members, partners, and green commuters who collectively made 2023 an excellent year for the Alewife TMA! Together, we celebrate the progress made towards sustainability in the Alewife & Fresh Pond area. Please take a moment to view our 2023 Recap which highlights the impact of the past year, We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts in transforming our region into a space where multimodal transportations options are available for everyone.
mechanic next to car, text: Winter Car Maintenance and Safety Tips with Luis
By TransAction Associates January 4, 2024
It's officially winter! Are you ready for the snow and ice? Is your car ready? Join Luis Mejia, Fleet Mechanic at TransAction Associates & Corporate Shuttles, as he shares some winter car maintenance and safety tips.
December 7, 2023
The Alewife TMA was thrilled to meet with Erin Shields of Longfellow to discuss Longfellow's dedication to environmental sustainability and the value of TMA membership for the tenants and employees at 100/125/150 Cambridgepark Drive.
Show More
Share by: