Starting in November, subway stops on the Red Line north of Harvard Square (Porter Square, Davis Square, and Alewife) will be closed on weekends until March of 2012. Shuttle buses will replace subway service (in addition to normal bus routes that cover many of these areas) while the MBTA makes repairs on these stations: fixing leaks, checking tracks, replacing power equipment. It needs to happen; the recent Boston Globe article had the money quote:

“this segment of the Red Line seized public attention in 2009 when it was singled out in an independent report on the MBTA ordered by Governor Deval Patrick. Report author David F. D’Alessandro, the former John Hancock chief executive, said the threat of derailment from deferred maintenance was so serious he would avoid riding the Red Line beyond Harvard.”

On a brighter note, hope you find my Quick Tips for Making the Most of the MBTA guide useful. Also cool: the MBTA is running extra commuter rail trains to and from Salem next weekend for Halloween.