How to get around October’s 13-day Orange Line closure

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The Bruins begin their 2024-25 season tonight with a revenge game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers — and we might even see newly re-signed Jeremy Swayman in goal.

But first, the news:

Shuttle struggles and Ruggles: The penultimate Orange Line diversion of 2024 begins today, as the T pushes to lift all slow zones on the line by the end of the month. For the next 13 days (Oct. 8 to Oct. 20), the MBTA is suspending train service from Forest Hills to Back Bay. And over the coming Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day weekend (Oct. 12-14), the closure will extend to North Station.

• Free shuttle buses are stopping at all stations between Forest Hills and Back Bay, with an additional stop at Copley so riders can hop on the Green Line. But be forewarned: The shuttles will make for a much slower commute, as Red Line riders can tell you. For example, according to the T, someone who takes the Orange Line from Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing should budget an extra 40 minutes if they’re taking shuttles.
• Per usual, there won’t be any downtown shuttles during the extended holiday weekend diversion; the T suggests just taking the Green Line from Copley to North Station.
• For a breezier ride, the T will let riders take the commuter rail for free between Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay and South Station. According to the T, the trip between Forest Hills and Back Bay takes just 10 minutes and trains run every 30 minutes during rush hour.
• Bluebikes is offering their customary MBTA diversion special. Use the code MBTAORANGEOCT on the Bluebikes app to get five free unlocks today through Oct. 20. (That deal works for anyone, not just those affected by the Orange Line closure.)
• What’s next: The T is also planning a weeklong closure on the north end of the Orange Line at the end of the month. But after that, all 27 of the line’s current speed restrictions should be gone.

In other T news: The Lynn ferry will keep running for an extra month this fall. T officials announced the seasonal ferry will continue weekday service through Nov. 29 due to popular demand. (Weekend service still comes to an end after this weekend.)

Sumner-time glad-ness: This past weekend’s Sumner Tunnel closure was the last for the two-year project, MassDOT said yesterday. While the state’s deal with contractors allowed the weekend closure to continue until mid-November, officials announced “no more will be required.” They’ll wrap up work during off-peak hours. (Good riddance to that detour’s merge into the Ted Williams Tunnel.)

• MassDOT officials are now turning their focus to a sinkhole that emerged below I-495 in Haverhill yesterday. Expect lane closures and backups to continue today.

On campus: About 60 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered yesterday at Tufts University to mark one year since the Hamas attacks on Israel. As WBUR’s Carrie Jung reports, the group used the day to re-up their call to Tufts to cease investments and projects with Israel over the country’s treatment of Palestinians. The protest later moved into an academic building, which is against the university’s student protest rules. Tufts officials said they will hold accountable anyone found to have violated university policy.

• ICYMI: Abood Okal, a Massachusetts man who escaped Gaza last fall with his family, told WBUR’s Deborah Becker he’s still coming to terms with the experience and his feelings of survivor’s guilt.
• Meanwhile, members of Boston’s Jewish community have been gathering on Sundays in Newton to hold a weekly vigil for the victims and hostages of the Oct. 7 attacks.

Off the field: New England Patriots captain Jabrill Peppers was arraigned in court yesterday on assault and drug charges stemming from an arrest over the weekend. Police say they responded to an altercation early Saturday at a home in Braintree, in which Peppers allegedly shoved his girlfriend and put his hands around her neck.

• Peppers’ lawyer says there’s video evidence that “sheds real doubt” on the allegations. Meanwhile, the Pats say they’re gathering more information before potentially disciplining the 29-year-old.

P.S.— MetroWest readers, WBUR is hosting an education-focused listening session this Thursday — and we want to hear from you! Come to the Framingham Public Library from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a conversation with WBUR journalists about the issues affecting public schools (and stay for the light refreshments). Seats are limited so make sure to RSVP here.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.