North Station Signal Upgrades and Broadway Elevator Closures to Impact Thursday Commute

Morning Commute Overview

Good morning, Boston. As we head into Thursday, March 19, 2026, commuters should prepare for a mix of ongoing infrastructure projects and specific station disruptions. While the major highways are moving at seasonal volumes, the focal point for delays today remains the North Station corridor and localized work in Allston and Jamaica Plain. Residual impacts from earlier week utility repairs in Roxbury may also affect surface travel during the morning rush.

MBTA Service Alerts and Station Access

The MBTA continues its heavy investment in the North Station Terminal Area Signal System Improvement Project. While the most significant service suspensions are scheduled for the coming weekend (starting Friday, March 20), travelers on the Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport lines should expect minor staging delays near the terminal today. Transit ambassadors are already on-site at North Station to assist with navigation ahead of tomorrow's diversions.

• Broadway Station: Both elevators 867 (platform to lobby) and 868 (lobby to street) remain out of service for major equipment upgrades. This work is expected to continue through May 2026. A dedicated shuttle bus is operating between Broadway and Andrew stations for those requiring accessible boarding.
• State Street: Elevator 967, serving the Oak Grove to Forest Hills and Wonderland platforms, is currently unavailable due to maintenance. Passengers are advised to use Elevator 802 as an alternative.
• Escalator Outages: Ongoing repairs at Aquarium and Bowdoin stations continue to limit access; please allow an extra five minutes for platform transfers.

Roadworks and Traffic Hotspots

In Allston, the I-90 Multimodal Project remains a primary source of disruption. Expect narrowed lanes and shifting traffic patterns near the former interchange. Meanwhile, drivers in Jamaica Plain should be aware of the Franklin Park Master Plan Fair taking place this evening at the William Devine Golf Course Clubhouse. Increased pedestrian traffic and local congestion are expected along Circuit Drive starting around 5:00 PM.

Additionally, crews are still monitoring the site of Tuesday's major water main break in Jackson Square. While most lanes have reopened, minor lane restrictions for final road resurfacing may cause intermittent bottlenecking during peak hours. In Westford, Boston Road remains limited to single-lane alternating traffic as part of the ongoing reconstruction project, impacting those heading toward the I-495 corridor.

Evening Event Impact

Expect localized delays in the Theater District tonight as The Ten Tenors perform at the Shubert Theatre. Furthermore, the Boston Wine & Food Festival at the Boston Harbor Hotel will likely increase vehicle volume along Atlantic Avenue and the Seaport border between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. We recommend using the Blue or Silver lines for harbor-side destinations to avoid evening gridlock.