The next big MBTA closure

Also: "Doxxing truck" sparks anger in Harvard Square; Cambridge cafe serves as refuge during Israel-Hamas conflict [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  October 13, 2023 ☀️ Sunny, with a high near 63. Good Morning Boston, It's Friday the 13th. Did you know there's a word — a very long word — for the fear of this particular day? It's called [paraskevidekatriaphobia](. Now if only there was a word for the fear of a big MBTA shutdown lurking around the corner... - Get ready, Red Line riders: Tomorrow marks the beginning of [the 16-day closure of the Red Line's Ashmont branch](. That means the Red Line will only run trains between Braintree and Alewife this weekend through Sunday, Oct. 29. The Mattapan trolley line will also stop running during the 16-day stretch. MBTA officials are encouraging Red Line riders in Dorchester and Mattapan to work from home (if they can) or plan for a slower commute via the alternative travel options. Here's a look at the ways around the closure. - Free shuttle buses will run back and forth from the Red Line's JFK/UMass station, making stops at all four Ashmont branch stations and all seven Mattapan line stops. [According to the T's website]( there'll be a new bus every two to three minutes between Ashmont and JFK/UMass during rush hours (and every 12 to 15 minutes along the Mattapan line). But they do have to contend with traffic. The T's trip planner estimates that it will take [35 minutes]( to go from Ashmont to JFK/UMass in the morning — about twice as long as the train usually takes. From the end of the Mattapan line, the bus to JFK/UMass will take[nearly an hour](. - The Fairmount commuter rail line [will also be free]( during the closure, though it's a bit of a walk from the closest Red Line and Mattapan trolley stops (and runs every 45 minutes). The closest Fairmount Line stop is [Blue Hill Avenue]( a third-of-a mile (or seven-minute walk) walk from Mattapan Station. From there, it's [a 25-minute ride]( to South Station. The [Talbot Avenue]( stop is also within a mile from Shawmut and Ashmont stations - Other MBTA buses could also be a good option, depending on your specific trip. The [18 bus]( runs up and down Dorchester Avenue, while the 24 route [runs parallel to the Mattapan trolley](. You could even take [the 31 bus]( to the Orange Line. - Will this inconvenience be worth it? The MBTA thinks so! Officials say they'll be able to do six months-worth of track repairs and upgrades. They're aiming to alleviate 28 speed restrictions, which [should make Red Line trips significantly faster](. - What's next: MBTA General Manager Phil Eng recently hinted that there's more Red Line work coming in November. However, the details (i.e. where and when) are still TBA. (MBTA) - Another option to get around the Red Line closure: Hop on [a Bluebike]( which just got cheaper for most Boston residents. Mayor Michelle Wu announced yesterday that the city is cutting the price of a yearly Bluebikes membership from $129 to $60 for Boston residents who have not had an annual membership in the last three years. The offer will be available through next June. You can [apply here](. - Additionally, the city is further reducing the $50-a-year Bluebikes membership for low-income individuals [to just $5 to qualifying Boston residents](. Low-income Bostonians under the age of 16 can get the $5 deal whether or not they have had a past membership. - As for the Red Line closure: Wu said the city will offer "a limited number of free Bluebikes passes" during the partial line closure, and also install extra docks by Red Line stops. City officials say more details about those plans will be announced later today. - In related news: A new report [found that fatal crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians have dropped big time]( in Boston. It's especially notable since [pedestrian deaths across Massachusetts]( (and [across the country]( saw a spike in 2022. - Heads up: Local law enforcement agencies are increasing security at religious and cultural centers today, after Hamas leaders called for a global day of protest today to support its attacks on Israel. - The Boston Globe [reports]( that Massachusetts state police say they are not aware of any specific or credible threats. Still, officials say people should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. P.S.— Do you know which Massachusetts elected official received boos for their comments during a Boston Common rally to support Israel? [Take our Boston News Quiz]( and see how closely you've been following this week's stories. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Israel warns more than 1 million people to evacuate northern Gaza]( The order from Israel faced immediate international objections, including from the U.N., which warned such an evacuation would have "devastating humanitarian consequences." [Read more.]( [Israel warns more than 1 million people to evacuate northern Gaza]( The order from Israel faced immediate international objections, including from the U.N., which warned such an evacuation would have "devastating humanitarian consequences." [Read more.]( [Scalise drops out of race for speaker of the House, leaving Congress in limbo]( Rep. Steve Scalise became the Republican nominee in a secret-ballot election but failed to secure enough votes to succeed on the House floor. [Read more.]( [Scalise drops out of race for speaker of the House, leaving Congress in limbo]( Rep. Steve Scalise became the Republican nominee in a secret-ballot election but failed to secure enough votes to succeed on the House floor. [Read more.]( [Palestinian coffee house in Cambridge serves as refuge in a time of war]( The café has become an informal gathering place for the area's Palestinian community as Israel pummels Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' brazen attack over the weekend. [Read more.]( [Palestinian coffee house in Cambridge serves as refuge in a time of war]( The café has become an informal gathering place for the area's Palestinian community as Israel pummels Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' brazen attack over the weekend. [Read more.]( [A 'doxxing truck' sparks anger, tears in Harvard Square]( In the fall, Harvard Square is host to thousands of students, neighbors and tourists. But this week, as violence unfolds in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the neighborhood has an unwelcome new visitor: a box truck with mounted LED screens, labeling some students “leading anti-Semites.” [Read more.]( [A 'doxxing truck' sparks anger, tears in Harvard Square]( In the fall, Harvard Square is host to thousands of students, neighbors and tourists. But this week, as violence unfolds in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the neighborhood has an unwelcome new visitor: a box truck with mounted LED screens, labeling some students “leading anti-Semites.” [Read more.]( [Mass. family stuck in Gaza pleads for help as airstrikes rain down]( A family from Medway went to visit relatives in Gaza about two weeks ago, before Hamas launched its deadly attack into southern Israel. They were scheduled to fly back to the United States on Friday, but are now stuck as Israeli airstrikes pummel the Gaza Strip. [Read more.]( [Mass. family stuck in Gaza pleads for help as airstrikes rain down]( A family from Medway went to visit relatives in Gaza about two weeks ago, before Hamas launched its deadly attack into southern Israel. They were scheduled to fly back to the United States on Friday, but are now stuck as Israeli airstrikes pummel the Gaza Strip. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Keep an eye on your TVs next Thanksgiving: The UMass Amherst marching band is [headed to the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City](. The group is among the lucky few selected from a pool of over one hundred applicants from colleges and high schools across the country. The selection also coincides with the 150th anniversary of the UMass band’s founding this year. - Award-winning costumer designer and "daughter of Massachusetts" Ruth Carter will receive the Coolidge Award from the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline this Sunday. WBUR's Arielle Gray [spoke to Carter about her life and career journey](. - A NASA spacecraft has returned from it's seven-year trip to an asteroid — and it brought back souvenirs: Tiny asphalt-black rocks. [Here's why scientists are thrilled]( with the collection from Bennu. - Newton writer Judy Bolton-Fasman mourns for the Israelis killed last weekend — and looks for reasons for hope in the intractable conflict — in [this Cognoscenti commentary](  What We're Reading 📚 - The Killing That Tore a Town Apart ([Boston Magazine]( - Mass. Commission for the Blind’s new boss faces long road to rebuild after years of mismanagement ([The Boston Globe]( - A Left That Refuses to Condemn Mass Murder Is Doomed ([Intelligencer](  🔎 Field Guide [South Boston: A Boston neighborhood guide]( Long associated with Boston’s Irish immigrant community, Southie is a bar-hopping destination for the college crowd, a short walk from the beach and an increasingly pricey home base for Boston’s young professionals. [Read more.]( [South Boston: A Boston neighborhood guide]( Long associated with Boston’s Irish immigrant community, Southie is a bar-hopping destination for the college crowd, a short walk from the beach and an increasingly pricey home base for Boston’s young professionals. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common [shares some mental health tips]( as we head into the colder months. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [For your weekend planning purposes.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. 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