The proposed Red Line/Blue Line Connector would link the only two lines that do not currently intersect within the MBTA's rapid transit system. The Blue Line, which is the shortest line in the system, runs from Bowdoin Station in downtown Boston to Wonderland Station in Revere, a distance of a little over seven miles. This project would extend the Blue Line approximately 1,500 feet underneath Cambridge Street to make a connection with Charles/MGH Station on the Red Line.
The project would allow Blue Line passengers to more efficiently connect to downtown and to the major medical facilities in the Cambridge Street area. In addition, passengers from the northwest metropolitan area of greater Boston would have direct access to the Blue Line without making multiple transfers. Implementing the Red Line/Blue Line Connector could present other opportunities, including:
- Increasing transit ridership, especially by providing hospital workers and visitors with a direct Blue Line connection.
- Improving mobility and regional access, especially for residents of East Boston, the North Shore, Cambridge, and suburbs to the northwest of Boston.
- Reducing congestion in downtown transfer stations.
- Creating a second airport connection for passengers from the northwest metropolitan Boston area.
- Improving the layover area for Blue Line cars at the west end of the Blue Line by creating new storage and crossovers for rail vehicles.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is legally required to complete all environmental reviews and final design for the Red Line/Blue Line Connector by December 31, 2011. The current phase of the project includes preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and conceptual engineering. Because there are a number of other ongoing and anticipated projects in the area, MassDOT will be coordinating with nearly a dozen other efforts, such as reconstruction of the Longfellow Bridge and the Storrow Drive tunnel, among others.
This website is intended to provide background information and materials on the project; updates on the current phase of project development, including meeting summaries, maps, and documents; and opportunities for public participation and comment. We invite you to check the site calendar and updates on a regular basis.
Thank you for your interest in the Red Line/Blue Line Connector project.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will hold two hearings on September 13 to solicit public comments on the proposed elimination of the Red/Blue Connector Final Design from the State Implementation Plan regulations.