Fields Corner station

Last updated
Fields Corner
Inbound train arriving at Fields Corner station August 2024.jpg
An inbound train at Fields Corner station in August 2024
General information
Location50 Freeman Street
Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°18′00″N71°03′42″W / 42.3000°N 71.0617°W / 42.3000; -71.0617
Line(s)Ashmont Branch (Shawmut Branch)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsAiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 15, 17, 18, 19, 201, 202,  210
Construction
Structure typeElevated
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedNovember 5, 1927
RebuiltMarch 2004–September 23, 2008
Passengers
FY20194,948 boardings (weekday average) [1]
Services
Preceding station MBTA.svg MBTA Following station
Shawmut
toward Ashmont
Red Line Savin Hill
toward Alewife
Former services
Preceding station New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Following station
Shawmut
toward Mattapan
Boston–​Mattapan Harrison Square
toward Boston
Location
Fields Corner station

Fields Corner station is a rapid transit station on the Ashmont branch of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Red Line, located in the Fields Corner district of Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. It is a major transfer point for MBTA bus service, serving routes 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 201 , 202 , and  210. The station opened in 1927 and was completely rebuilt from 2004 to 2008, making it fully accessible.

Contents

History

The 1927-built station in 2004 West Red Line rapid transit line portals looking east, Fields Corner MBTA station (25382069812).jpg
The 1927-built station in 2004

Fields Corner and Savin Hill stations opened on November 5, 1927. Fields Corner was the southern terminus of the line for about a year until Shawmut and Ashmont station opened in 1928. [2] The elevated station was designed for efficient transfer between rapid transit trains and surface streetcars and buses. It had two island platforms with the rapid transit tracks in the center and the streetcar tracks on the outside (two tracks on the north side). A busway (later closed) was located at ground level on the south side of the station.

The pedestrian tunnel from Charles Street was controversially closed in January 1970 due to crime and vandalism. [3] In the mid-1980s, the platforms were extended for six-car trains, which were introduced in 1988. [2]

The MBTA issued a $4.3 million design contract for renovations of Ashmont, Shawmut, and Fields Corner stations on May 3, 2001. [4] :24 Shawmut and Fields Corner reached 100% design by January 10, 2003; Ashmont was delayed due to design changes. [4] :25 The MBTA broke ground for the Red Line Rehabilitation Project - a $67 million reconstruction of Shawmut, Fields Corner, and Savin Hill stations - in October 2003. [5]

Construction began in March 2004. [6] The renovations changed the layout of the station, with a new fare lobby under the tracks. [7] Original plans to include public art as part of the Arts on the Line program were removed in budget cuts; only historical interpretive panels were installed. [8] [9] The new entrance lobby opened on December 22, 2006, making it the final fare-controlled station on the MBTA to be converted to use the CharlieCard-based automated fare collection system. [10] The station renovation was completed on September 23, 2008. [11]

Buses replaced service on the Ashmont Branch from October 14–29, 2023, to allow for track work. [12] [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Line (MBTA)</span> Rapid transit line in Massachusetts, US

The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as part of the MBTA subway system. The line runs south and east underground from Alewife station in North Cambridge through Somerville and Cambridge, surfacing to cross the Longfellow Bridge then returning to tunnels under Downtown Boston. It continues underground through South Boston, splitting into two branches on the surface at JFK/UMass station. The Ashmont branch runs southwest through Dorchester to Ashmont station, where the connecting light rail Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line continues to Mattapan station. The Braintree branch runs southeast through Quincy and Braintree to Braintree station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line</span> Light rail line in Boston and Milton, Massachusetts

The Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line, commonly referred to as the Mattapan Trolley, is a partially grade-separated light rail line which forms part of the MBTA's Red Line rapid transit line. The line, which runs through Boston and Milton, Massachusetts, opened on August 26, 1929, as a conversion of a former commuter rail line. It exclusively uses PCC streetcars built in the 1940s. Passengers must transfer at Ashmont to access the rest of the Red Line, which uses heavy rail metro rolling stock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JFK/UMass station</span> Transit station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston-area streetcar lines</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashmont station</span> Rapid transit station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Ashmont station is a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) intermodal transit station located at Peabody Square in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the southern terminus of the Ashmont branch of the rapid transit Red Line, the northern terminus of the connecting light rail Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line, and a major terminal for MBTA bus service. Ashmont has two side platforms serving the below-grade Red Line and a single side platform on an elevated balloon loop for the Mattapan Line. The station is fully accessible for all modes.

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

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savin Hill station</span> Rapid transit station in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Savin Hill station is a rapid transit station in Boston, Massachusetts. It serves the Ashmont branch of the MBTA's Red Line. It is located at 121 Savin Hill Avenue adjacent to Sydney Street in the Savin Hill area of the Dorchester neighborhood. Opened in 1845 as a commuter rail station, Savin Hill was converted to rapid transit in 1927 and rebuilt in 2004–05 for accessibility. Averaging 2,199 daily boardings by a FY 2019 count, Savin Hill is the least-used station on the Red Line.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">MBTA subway</span> Boston region transit service

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

Shawmut station is a subway station in Boston, Massachusetts. It serves the Ashmont branch of the MBTA's Red Line. It is located on Dayton Street in the Dorchester neighborhood. The station, the only underground station on the Red Line south of Andrew station, sits in a shallow cut-and-cover subway tunnel that runs from Park Street south to Peabody Square where it surfaces at Ashmont station. Shawmut opened along with Ashmont on September 1, 1928, as part of a southward extension of the Cambridge–Dorchester line.

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

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butler station (MBTA)</span> Light rail station in Boston

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Avenue station (MBTA)</span> Light rail station in Milton, Massachusetts, US

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

Capen Street station is a light rail station in Milton, Massachusetts. It serves the MBTA Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line. It is located on Capen Street off Eliot Street; the westernmost of the four MBTA stations in Milton, it consists of two side platforms flanking the eponymous street's grade crossing. The platforms are staggered to allow trains to make the stop at Capen Street before crossing the street itself, as there is no signal at the grade crossing. Capen Street is accessible via wooden ramps on both platforms. Capen Street opened in September 1930 as an infill station on the line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad</span> Former rail line in Massachusetts, US

The Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad was a railroad in Massachusetts. It ran between Neponset Village in Dorchester, Massachusetts, through the town of Milton to the village of Mattapan. It was opened in 1847 and became part of the Old Colony Railroad system in 1848. The western portion was converted to a streetcar line in 1929, while the eastern portion remained in use for freight until the 1980s.

References

  1. "A Guide to Ridership Data". MassDOT/MBTA Office of Performance Management and Innovation. June 22, 2020. p. 9.
  2. 1 2 Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
  3. Carr, Robert (January 20, 1970). "Crimes Force Close of Pedestrian Tunnel". Boston Globe. p. 1 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. 1 2 Official Audit Report – Issued June 16, 2014: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, For the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2012 (PDF) (Report). Auditor of the Commonwealth. June 16, 2014.
  5. "MBTA Breaks Ground On Three New Red Line Stations" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. October 7, 2003. Archived from the original on December 2, 2003.
  6. "Red Line Rehabilitation Project To Begin" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 5, 2004. Archived from the original on April 18, 2004.
  7. "MBTA Fields Corner Station". Cambridge Seven Associates. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016.
  8. Slack, Donovan (April 19, 2003). "Budget cuts leave no room for art at Dorchester T stops". Boston Globe. p. 15 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. "On the Red Line" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2017. pp. 10, 11.
  10. Ryan, Andrew (December 23, 2006). "Last T Station Converted To New Fare Equipment". Boston Globe via Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  11. "Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino Celebrate Completion of Fields Corner Station" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 23, 2008.
  12. Dumcius, Gintautas (August 24, 2023). "MBTA to shut down Ashmont, Mattapan branches in October". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  13. "MBTA to Expedite Critical Track Work Between JFK/UMass and Ashmont Stations and on the Mattapan Line, Shuttle Buses to Replace Service on Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line October 14-29" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 24, 2023.

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