Amory Street station

Last updated

Amory Street
Inbound train at Amory Street station, December 2021.JPG
An inbound train at Amory Street station in December 2021
General information
Location Commonwealth Avenue at Amory Street
Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°21′04″N71°06′53″W / 42.3510°N 71.1147°W / 42.3510; -71.1147
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsAiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 57
Construction
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedMay 18, 1896 (1896-05-18)
RebuiltNovember 15, 2021
Previous namesSt. Paul Street, Boston University West
Passengers
2011Weekday average boardings: [1]
St. Paul Street: 1,296
Boston University West: 704
Services
Preceding station MBTA.svg MBTA Following station
Babcock Street
toward Boston College
Green Line Boston University Central
toward Government Center
Former services
Preceding station MBTA.svg MBTA Following station
Pleasant Street
toward Watertown
Green Line University Road
toward Park Street
Location
Amory Street station

Amory Street station is a light rail stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line B branch, located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue in the west part of the Boston University campus. The accessible station has two side platforms serving the line's two tracks, with access at Amory Street and St. Paul Street.

Contents

Streetcar service on Commonwealth Avenue began in 1896 under the West End Street Railway. The line passed through several operators; in the 1960s, it became the Green Line B branch. Stops were located at Boston University West (Amory Street) and St. Paul Street. Planning for consolidation of the two stations into a single accessible station as part of a stop consolidation project began in 2014. Construction of Amory Street station and nearby Babcock Street station began in February 2021; they opened on November 15, 2021.

Station layout

Amory Street station is located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue between St. Paul Street and Amory Street, adjacent to the Boston University College of Fine Arts and College of General Studies buildings. [2] The station has two accessible 225-foot (69 m)-long side platforms serving the two tracks of the B branch. The platforms are located in the middle of the 500-foot (150 m)-long block, with walkways from the platforms to the St. Paul Street grade crossing and a pedestrian crossing at Amory Street. Each platform has a 150-foot (46 m)-long canopy for passengers, with wavy colored panels on both sides. [3] [2]

History

Streetcar service

Streetcars at St. Paul Street in 1965 MBTA 3176 at St Paul Street, September 1965.jpg
Streetcars at St. Paul Street in 1965

The West End Street Railway built a new streetcar line in the median of Commonwealth Avenue in the mid-1890s. Service began on the new tracks between Governors Square and Union Square on May 18, 1896. [4] [5] [6] : 48  This route was extended to Nonantum Square on existing tracks later that year; it began using the Tremont Street subway on November 8, 1897. [6] : 48  [7] The Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) leased the West End Street Railway on October 1, 1897, and continued its system expansion. [6] : 35  New tracks on Commonwealth Avenue from Chestnut Hill Avenue to Brighton Avenue were opened by the BERy on May 26, 1900, allowing direct service from Lake Street to downtown via Commonwealth Avenue. [6] : 58  The Nonantum Square line was extended to Watertown Yard in 1912, forming the service pattern for the next half-century. [8]

The BERy was succeeded by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in 1947; the MTA in turn was succeeded by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in 1964. [9] The MBTA designated the remaining streetcar lines as the Green Line in 1965; in 1967, the Watertown line became the Green Line A branch, with the Lake Street (Boston College) line becoming the B branch. A branch service ended on June 21, 1969, leaving only the B branch on Commonwealth Avenue. [10] By 1972, stops with small platforms were located on the east side of Amory Street (later called Boston University West) and the west side of St. Paul Street, about 550 feet (170 m) apart. [11]

As part of the MBTA's public art program, six new station signs at Boston University West were installed in 2010 featuring illustrations by Boston University College of Fine Arts graduate Andy Bell. [12] Previously, in 2006, the signs had featured "Open Space", an exhibition of cloudscapes by undergraduate Seth Gadsden. [13] Both installations were collaborations between the MBTA and the College of Fine Arts, which was located adjacent to the station. [13] [12]

Stop consolidation

Boston University West station in 2018 Inbound train at BU West station, December 2018.JPG
Boston University West station in 2018

In 2014, the MBTA began planning to consolidate four stops – Boston University West, St. Paul Street, Pleasant Street, and Babcock Street – located near Boston University's West Campus. The four stops, which were not accessible, were to be turned into two fully accessible stops as part of a reconfiguration of Commonwealth Avenue between the Boston University Bridge and Packard's Corner. [14] [15] Boston University West and St. Paul Street were to be consolidated into one station in the block between Amory Street and St. Paul Street. [16] Work was delayed by the need to complete other roadwork on Commonwealth Avenue. [17]

The MBTA awarded a $17.8 million construction contract on March 23, 2020. [3] Construction was set to last from February 2021 to early 2022, with night and weekend bustitution (replacement with bus service) for much of 2021. [2] In February 2021, the MBTA announced that the new stop replacing Boston University West and St. Paul Street would be named Amory Street. [18] Buses replaced rail service between Washington Street and Kenmore from April 17 to May 9 and May 17 to June 13, 2021, allowing for construction of the new platforms and canopy steelwork. [19] [20]

Boston University West and St. Paul Street stations were closed at the end of service on Friday, November 12, 2021. After a weekend closure, Amory Street station opened on November 15. [21] Boston University planned to display Andy Bell's artworks elsewhere on its campus. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Line (MBTA)</span> Light rail system

The Green Line is a semi-metro system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in the Boston, Massachusetts, metropolitan area. It is the oldest MBTA subway line, and with tunnel sections dating from 1897, the oldest subway in North America. It runs underground through downtown Boston, and on the surface into inner suburbs via six branches on radial boulevards and grade-separated alignments. With an average daily weekday ridership of 137,700 in 2019, it is the third most heavily used light rail system in the country. The line was assigned the green color in 1967 during a systemwide rebranding because several branches pass through sections of the Emerald Necklace of Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenmore station</span> Subway station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Kenmore station is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line, located under Kenmore Square in the Fenway/Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The station opened on October 23, 1932 as a one-station extension of the Boylston Street subway to relieve congestion in the square. Kenmore is the primary station for passengers wishing to visit Fenway Park, located one block away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Hills station (MBTA)</span> Transit station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Forest Hills station is an intermodal transfer station in Boston, Massachusetts. It serves the MBTA rapid transit Orange Line and three MBTA Commuter Rail lines and is a major terminus for MBTA bus routes. It is located in Forest Hills, in the southern part of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Most Providence/Stoughton Line and Franklin/Foxboro Line trains, and all Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains, pass through the station without stopping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston College station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Boston College station is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line B branch. It is located at St. Ignatius Square on the Boston College campus near the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Lake Street, on the border between the Brighton neighborhood of Boston and the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts. Originally opened in 1896, it has been the terminus of the Commonwealth Avenue line since 1900. The current station is planned to be replaced by a new station located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue just east of Lake Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hynes Convention Center station</span> Subway station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Hynes Convention Center station is an underground light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line. It is located at the intersection of Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue near the western end of the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The station is named for the Hynes Convention Center, which is located about 700 feet (210 m) to the east along Boylston Street. It has two side platforms serving the two tracks of the Boylston Street subway, which are used by the Green Line B branch, C branch, and D branch. The main entrance to the station from Massachusetts Avenue leads to a fare lobby under the 360 Newbury Street building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Line C branch</span> Light rail line in Massachusetts, US

The C branch, also called the Beacon Street Line or Cleveland Circle Line, is one of four branches of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Green Line light rail system in the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan area. The line begins at Cleveland Circle in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston and runs on the surface through Brookline along the median of Beacon Street. Reentering Boston, the line goes underground through the St. Mary's Street incline and joins the B and D branches at Kenmore. Trains run through the Boylston Street subway to Copley where the E branch joins, then continue through the Tremont Street subway to downtown Boston. The C branch has terminated at Government Center station since October 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Line B branch</span> Light rail line in Boston, Massachusetts

The B branch, also called the Commonwealth Avenue branch or Boston College branch, is a branch of the MBTA Green Line light rail system which operates on Commonwealth Avenue west of downtown Boston, Massachusetts. One of four branches of the Green Line, the B branch runs from Boston College station down the median of Commonwealth Avenue to Blandford Street. There, it enters Blandford Street portal into Kenmore station, where it merges with the C and D branches. The combined services run into the Boylston Street subway and Tremont Street subway to downtown Boston. B branch service has terminated at Government Center since October 2021. Unlike the other branches, the B branch runs solely through the city limits of Boston. The Green Line Rivalry between Boston College and Boston University is named in reference to the B branch, which runs to both universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Street station (MBTA)</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

South Street station is a light rail surface stop on the MBTA Green Line B branch, located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue east of South Street in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. South Street is the lowest-ridership stop on the B branch, with just 214 daily boardings by a 2011 survey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut Hill Avenue station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts

Chestnut Hill Avenue station is a light rail surface stop on the MBTA Green Line B branch, located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue just east of Chestnut Hill Avenue in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Chestnut Hill Avenue has two low-level platforms, serving the B branch's two tracks; the stop is not accessible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summit Avenue station (MBTA Green Line C branch)</span> Light rail station in Brookline, Massachusetts, US

Summit Avenue station is a light rail stop on the MBTA Green Line C branch, located in the median of Beacon Street between Winchester Street and Summit Avenue in the Coolidge Corner neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts. The stop has two low side platforms that serve the line's two tracks; it is not accessible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babcock Street station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Babcock Street station is a light rail stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line B branch, located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue in the west part of the Boston University campus. The accessible station has two side platforms serving the line's two tracks, with access at Babcock Street and Pleasant Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Packards Corner station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Packards Corner station is a light rail stop on the MBTA's Green Line B branch located at Packard's Corner—the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Brighton Avenue—in Allston, Boston, Massachusetts. The station is located in a median between the westbound travel lanes and frontage road of Commonwealth Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvard Avenue station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Harvard Avenue station is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line B branch, located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The station is located on the west side of Commonwealth Avenue at Harvard Avenue, in a residential and commercial district. The station consists of two side platforms, located on opposite sides of Harvard Avenue, which serve the B branch's two tracks. The station is fully accessible. Harvard Avenue is the second-busiest surface stop on the Green Line surface branches, with an average of 4,077 boardings on weekdays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston University Central station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Boston University Central station is a surface-level light rail station on the MBTA Green Line B branch, located the center median of Commonwealth Avenue west of St. Marys Street in Boston, Massachusetts, surrounded by the Boston University campus. It consists of two side platforms, which serve the B branch's two tracks. The station is accessible, with raised platforms to allow level boarding onto low-floor trams and a high platform on the inbound side to serve high-floor light rail vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston University East station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Boston University East station is a surface-level light rail station on the MBTA Green Line B branch located in Boston, Massachusetts. The station is located in the center median of Commonwealth Avenue, between Granby Street and the eastern end of Cummington Street, surrounded by the Boston University campus. It consists of two side platforms, which serve the B branch's two tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Street station (MBTA)</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Washington Street station is a surface stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)'s Green Line B branch, located in Brighton, Boston. The station is located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue northeast of Washington Street. Washington Street station consists of two side platforms, which serve the B branch's two tracks. The station is fully accessible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutherland Road station</span> Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Sutherland Road station is a light rail stop on the MBTA Green Line B branch, located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue at its intersection with Sutherland Road, in Brighton, Boston, Massachusetts. The stop consists of two side platforms, which serve the B branch's two tracks. The platforms are at track level and the stop is not accessible. Track work in 2018–19, which included replacement of platform edges at several stops, triggered requirements for accessibility modifications at those stops. Design for Sutherland Road and four other B Branch stops was 30% complete by December 2022. As of June 2023, construction is expected to take place during 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiswick Road station</span> MBTA subway station

Chiswick Road station is a light rail station on the MBTA's Green Line B branch, located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue north of Chiswick Road in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Chiswick Road consists of two side platforms, which serve the B branch's two tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medford/Tufts station</span> Light rail station in Medford, Massachusetts, US

Medford/Tufts station is a light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line located off Boston Avenue near College Avenue in Medford, Massachusetts, adjacent to Tufts University. The accessible station has a single island platform serving the two tracks of the Medford Branch. It opened on December 12, 2022, as part of the Green Line Extension (GLX), which added two northern branches to the Green Line, and is the northern terminus of the E branch.

References

  1. ↑ "Ridership and Service Statistics" (PDF) (14th ed.). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "B Branch Station Consolidation Project: Virtual Public Meeting" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 28, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "FMCB Awards $17.8 Million for B Branch Station Consolidation Work" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ Ninth Annual Report of the West End Street Railway Company for the Year Ending September 30, 1896. Walker, Young & Co. 1896. p. 5 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ "New Electric Line". The Boston Globe. April 9, 1895. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. 1 2 3 4 Clarke, Bradley H.; Cummings, O.R. (1997). Tremont Street Subway: A Century of Public Service. Boston Street Railway Association. ISBN   0938315048.
  7. ↑ "Subway Notice". The Boston Globe. November 6, 1897. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ "To Watertown Car Barn". The Boston Globe. December 7, 1912. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. ↑ Cheney, Frank; Sammarco, Anthony M. (1997). Trolleys Under the Hub. Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN   0752409077.
  10. ↑ Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
  11. ↑ Thomas K. Dyer Inc. (1972). "Green Line Station Mileage from Lechmere". Plan for Acquisition and Use of Railroad Rights-of-Way. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  12. 1 2 Doucette, Vernon (February 1, 2010). "Closeup: Rhett Check". BU Today. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Designed to a "T"": Art installation comes to BU West". BU Today. April 24, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Comm. Ave. Green Line Improvements Public Meeting" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. October 16, 2014.
  15. ↑ Brown, Joel (November 3, 2016). "Comm Ave Remake Kicks Off". BU Today. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  16. ↑ O'Rourke, John (October 23, 2014). "T May Eliminate Two Green Line B Stops". BU Today. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  17. ↑ Brelsford, Laura (December 5, 2016). "MBTA System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives: December 2016 Update" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  18. ↑ "MBTA Announces Names of New Stations as Part of Green Line B Branch Station Consolidation Project" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. February 11, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Building a Better T: Green Line B Branch Station Consolidation Project Work Taking Place for Seven Weeks, Washington Street – Kenmore Work Begins April 17" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 31, 2021.
  20. ↑ "B Branch Accelerated Work 100% Complete" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 14, 2021.
  21. ↑ "New Babcock Street and Amory Street Stations Open November 15" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 12, 2021.
  22. ↑ "MBTA Celebrates Completion of Two New Green Line Stations" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 16, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.