😵‍💫🚇 The longest T shutdown yet

It’s Thursday, Boston.

📣 PSA: The B-Side team is going on a field trip, and you’re invited! We’re kayaking Castle Neck River at Crane Estate on Sept. 15 with @instaiona and Keolis massAdventures. Tickets are 15% off with code Bside15. Grab them here!

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Karen Read goes prime-time

• The “Bachelorette” is coming home

• Dancing with the Massholes

Up first…

TRANSPORTATION

The shutdown to end all shutdowns

We’ve seen many a Red Line shutdown this year. But none quite like this. From Sept. 6 (this Friday) to 29, Red Line service will be replaced with shuttle buses between JFK/UMass and Braintree. Yes, that’s 24 whole days.

Here’s what to know:

🚌 The shuttle bus sitch isn’t straightforward. Shuttles will make stops along the T’s usual route from Braintree to North Quincy, but the final stop won’t be JFK/UMass (in fact, there won’t be any shuttle service from that station at all). Instead, after North Quincy, shuttles will head to Ashmont station, where riders can get on the Ashmont branch for regular Red Line service.

🚂 The commuter rail may be your new BFF. Per the MBTA, riders are “strongly encouraged” to use the Middleborough, Kingston, and Greenbush commuter rail lines when possible, which will be fare-free between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station during the shutdown. Thankfully, there will be extra coaches in anticipation of a ridership spike, with trains running about every 20 to 30 minutes.

😬 That is, when it isn’t also shut down. Oh yeah, during the weekends of Sept. 7 to 8 and 14 to 15, the Middleborough, Kingston, and Greenbush lines will also be shut down and replaced by (separate) shuttle bus service between Braintree and South Station.

⏰ Long story short: Budget some major extra time. Although the Red Line will be running increased service on the Ashmont line (think: trains about every eight minutes), the MBTA still advises riders to budget a lot of extra commuting time. To give you an idea: They recommend riders traveling from Braintree to Park St. to anticipate an extra 40 minutes sobs.

🙏 But don’t give up all hope just yet. We’re not going to lie to you, B-Siders, the next three weeks are looking rough. But when you’re sitting on a shuttle bus, thinking about swearing off the T for life (been there), remember: If all goes well, this shutdown will nix about 20 slow zones, improve round-trip Braintree branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes, put us on track for a slow zone-free Red Line by November’s end, and allow for the MBTA to further increase weekday service along the route.

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

🔍 Mass.’ IRL true crime saga is going prime-time. If, like us, you were glued to the news during the Karen Read murder (mis)trial this year, we have a treat for you: ABC is airing a new 20/20 special on it this Friday. According to the trailer, we can expect exclusive one-on-one interviews with Read (shot before her first trial began), former friends of defendant John O’Keefe herself, and behind-the-scenes video content. The special can be watched on ABC or Hulu. 

🍂 When are the leaves going to change this year? Around early October here in Boston. Is it just me, or do allergies get worse in August and September? It’s not just you, and the rise of weed-related pollen is partially to blame. No, we didn’t get a meteorology degree overnight, we just read the Globe’s weather mailbag, where Globe meteorologist Ken Mahan answers reader Q’s about Boston weather. This time, he covers your burning fall Q’s, plus why smoky skies make for red sunsets. Send in your own questions to [email protected].

❤️ Boston’s “Bachelorette” is coming home. If you saw “The Bachelorette” season finale this week, you already know Jenn Tran’s journey to finding love ended with a swing and a miss (boo, Devin!). But her old stomping grounds are helping turn things around as Fenway Park plans to host a “Bachelorette” night this Saturday. In addition to Tran throwing out the first pitch, fans will have the chance to meet Tran (a former Boston resident!), along with a few potential surprises. Bonus: Buy your ticket using this offer and get a “Bachelorette”-branded Red Sox hat.

😋 Time to crack open the Resy app. Fall is often one of the busiest seasons for restaurant openings, and the Globe is already all over it with its list of 10 must-know openings in and around Boston. You’ve got the folks behind Bar Vlaha and Krasi opening up another Greek sport, Kaia, in the South End, a “Chopped” champion with a local food truck opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant, a speakeasy-style bakery in Cambridge emphasizing Argentine specialties, and more. You can see the whole list here. 

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QUICK QUESTION

🔍 Are/were you invested in the Karen Read trial?

ONE LAST THING

Dancing with the Massholes

Usually, we wouldn’t think twice about “Dancing with the Stars.” But this season, we’re absolutely seated. Why? The cast is ridiculous — and very New England. 

We already know America’s sweetheart “pommel horse guy” Stephen Nedoroscik will be taking to the dance floor. But as of Wednesday, we found out that New England-connected Bachelorette Jenn Tran, former Pats wide receiver Danny Amendola, and fellow New England Olympian Ilona Maher will be joining him.

Plus: While there’s no local connection, the additions of 90210’s Tori Spelling, last season’s Bachelor Joey Graziadei, and con artist Anna “Delvey” Sorokin (who appears to be dancing with an ankle monitor) are definitely helping. 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

⭐ Thanks for reading! Bravo to whoever cast this season. But our money is still on Nedoroscik for the mirrorball.

🎫 The results are in: 34% of polled B-Siders don’t ever get parking tickets … because they don’t have cars. But as one reader deftly pointed out: “FWIW, you don't have to own a car to get a ticket. Never mind how I know.” 

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