MBTA to shut Red Line for 10 days starting July 21
CAMBRIDGE — The MBTA will suspend Red Line service between Alewife and Park Street for 10 consecutive days beginning July 21, replacing trains with free shuttle buses at all Cambridge stations, the city announced, while a man arraigned in the July Fourth killing of a city worker returns to court today.
TOWN HALL
The MBTA will close Red Line service between Alewife and Park Street from July 21 through July 30, 2026, with free, accessible shuttle buses making all stops in between, according to the city's News Flash feed. Riders should expect the disruption to affect commutes throughout the period.
Also beginning the week of July 20, the city's contractor, Newport Construction, will begin roadway milling and paving work on several streets to improve road conditions, weather permitting. The City Manager's Office and License Commission have also approved seasonal alcohol-to-go sales, public consumption districts, and a one-hour extension of alcohol sales hours for permitted bars and restaurants to support local businesses.
The state has elevated Cambridge and the broader Northeast region from a Level 2 "Significant Drought" to a Level 3 "Critical Drought" status, the city said. Separately, the Community Benefits Advisory Committee announced an advance notice of an upcoming competitive grant round intended to support community-based nonprofits addressing critical resident needs; the committee meets Monday, July 20, at 3 p.m.
Rayquon Brown, 29, of Canton, was arraigned in Cambridge District Court and held without bail on murder and related charges in the July 4 fatal shooting of Xavier Bautista near Norfolk and Broadway streets, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Cambridge Police Commissioner Pauline Wells announced. The next court date in the case is today, Friday, July 17.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Cambridge Public Library's Summer Reading series continues today with "¡Música! with Mariana Iranzi" at the O'Connell branch, a bilingual family concert in English and Spanish beginning at 3 p.m. The library is also hosting a High Beginner ESOL class at Central Square at 3 p.m., a teen movie at the Valente branch at 3 p.m., and an American Sign Language basics workshop at the O'Neill branch at 5 p.m., recommended for ages 10 and up.
Saturday brings a full slate at the Main branch, including a Sewing 101 workshop (9:30 a.m., prior Hive Safety Training required), a Mandarin sing-along and story time with educator Mina (Yating) Fan (10 a.m.), intermediate English conversation practice at Central Square (10:30 a.m.), and a Serger Training class for experienced sewers (11:30 a.m.). Saturday evening features "Park Sounds: riah" at 2 p.m. on the Main branch's front lawn, a free outdoor concert featuring the Boston-based Cape Verdean-American artist, funded by the CPL Foundation in memory of Janet Axelrod.
The Valente Branch is now open Sundays from 1-5 p.m. through July and August, while the Main Library remains closed Sundays until September, the library noted.
The city will also host a free World Cup final watch party around Lechmere Square at CambridgeSide on Sunday, July 19, beginning at 2 p.m. with kickoff at 3 p.m., in partnership with the Office of Tourism.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Arrest Made In Fourth Of July Fatal Cambridge Shooting" — Patch reports that Xavier Bautista, a Cambridge Department of Public Works employee, was found shot and killed with two gunshot wounds, a story also covered in the city's own News Flash today (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge/arrest-made-fourth-july-fatal-cambridge-shooting).
"Boston-based Burger Restaurant Opening New Location In Cambridge" — According to Patch, a Boston restaurant known for smoked burgers is bringing a new concept with an expanded menu to Kendall Square later this month (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge/boston-based-burger-restaurant-opening-new-location-cambridge).
"Cal State LA arts leader teaches inaugural Harvard course on arts administration and museum leadership" — Per a Cal State LA Newsroom item flagged in local alerts, an arts administrator is teaching a new Harvard course this summer on museum leadership, a topic also touched on in Patch's morning roundup (read it at https://news.calstatela.edu/2026/07/16/cal-state-la-arts-leader-teaches-inaugural-harvard-course-on-arts-administration-and-museum-leadership/).
COMING UP
The World Cup final watch party takes place Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. (kickoff 3 p.m.) around Lechmere Square at CambridgeSide. The Community Benefits Advisory Committee meets Monday, July 20, at 3 p.m. Roadway paving work by Newport Construction begins the week of July 20. Red Line shuttle buses replace train service between Alewife and Park Street from July 21 through July 30.