Starting March 25, Forest Hills Station Back Down to One Track

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File photo: Commuters will soon see signs like this again, pictured on Sept. 6, 2016, as the T shutters one track at Forest Hills from March 25 through June.

Chris Helms

File photo: Commuters will soon see signs like this again, pictured on Sept. 6, 2016, as the T shutters one track at Forest Hills from March 25 through June.

File photo: Commuters will soon see signs like this again, pictured on Sept. 6, 2016, as the T shutters one track at Forest Hills from March 25 through June.

Chris Helms

File photo: Commuters will soon see signs like this again, pictured on Sept. 6, 2016, as the T shutters one track at Forest Hills from March 25 through June.

Forest Hills Station will be taken back down to one track starting March 25 as part of the Casey Arborway project.

The plan is the same as from when the T shut down one track from September through December. This time, instead of installing a jet fan needed for the new station entrance north of New Washington Street, the closure will make it easier to do electric work and build "underground elements" required by the massive project, MassDOT said in an advisory issued Wednesday.

During the last stretch of one-track operation, the T said its plan for rush hour would not cause added delays.

The September-December closure allowed the following work on the Casey Arborway project to be done:

  • Jet fans installed to ventilate the station.
  • Walls to be built for a platform extension.
  • Construction of stairs to the new Orange Line entrance north of New Washington Street.
Detail of official Casey Arborway plan showing new entrance to Forest Hills T north of New Washington Street.

MassDOT

Detail of official Casey Arborway plan showing new entrance to Forest Hills T north of New Washington Street.

Back in the fall, a MassDOT spokesperson told Jamaica Plain News that the track closing causes fewer overall hassles for commuters because it allows work to be done without as much nighttime and weekend bus substitution service.

One of the jet fans installed at Forest Hills Station during the previous period of one-track operation.

Chris Helms

One of the jet fans installed at Forest Hills Station during the previous period of one-track operation.

The jet fans installed during the last track closure are a crucial element of the entire massive Casey Arborway project. In fact, MassDOT has blamed procurement problems around them for the year of delays to the project. The new roads, bike paths and pedestrian walkways are now supposed to be done by fall 2017.

The new Orange Line entrance will allow folks to walk from the Southwest Corridor Park under New Washington Street to the station.

See all our Casey Overpass/Casey Arborway coverage here.

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