Science Park station (MBTA)

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Science Park / West End
Science Park station from below, June 2017.JPG
Science Park station in June 2017
LocationLeverett Circle, Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°22′00″N 71°04′03.5″W / 42.36667°N 71.067639°W / 42.36667; -71.067639Coordinates: 42°22′00″N 71°04′03.5″W / 42.36667°N 71.067639°W / 42.36667; -71.067639
Line(s)Lechmere Viaduct
Platforms2 side platforms
ConnectionsBus transport Lechmere–North Station shuttle
Construction
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusTemporarily closed (May 24, 2020–March 2022)
History
OpenedAugust 20, 1955
RebuiltApril 30 – November 4, 2011
Passengers
FY2019873 boardings (weekday average)[1]
Services (upon reopening)
Preceding station MBTA.svg MBTA Following station
Lechmere
toward Union Square
 Green Line North Station
toward Riverside
Lechmere
toward Medford/​Tufts
 Green Line
E branch
May 2022
 North Station
toward Heath Street
Former services
Preceding station MBTA.svg MBTA Following station
Lechmere
Terminus
 Green Line
Cut back in 1980
 North Station
toward Boston College
Green Line
Cut back in 1981
 North Station
toward Cleveland Circle

Science Park station (signed as Science Park/West End) is an elevated light rail station on the MBTA Green Line. It is located at the Boston end of the Old Charles River Dam at Leverett Circle, near the intersection of Nashua Street and Charles Street (Storrow Drive). The station is located at the south end of the Lechmere Viaduct, which carries the Green Line over the Charles River. The station is named for the nearby Boston Museum of Science. With 873 daily boardings by a FY 2019 count, Science Park is the least-used fare-controlled station on the Green Line.

Service to Science Park and Lechmere stations is replaced by shuttle buses from May 24, 2020, to March 2022 due to construction of the Green Line Extension project.

History[]

Science Park station in August 1955 just after opening

The Lechmere viaduct opened in June 1912, allowing streetcars from Somerville, Cambridge, and Charlestown direct access to the Tremont Street subway, and the prepayment terminal at Lechmere opened in 1922. However, there was no station located on the viaduct itself until Science Park station (named after the 1951-opened Museum of Science) opened on August 20, 1955.[2]

The station was closed from June 25, 2004, to February 12, 2005, while the Causeway Street Elevated was replaced by a new tunnel under TD Garden.[2][3] On January 21, 2009, station signage was changed to read "Science Park/West End", though MBTA maps continued to use the shorter name.[4][5]

A footbridge originally crossed the west side of Leverett Circle and connected to the fare mezzanine of the station. The bridge was removed in 2005 as part of Big Dig construction (to allow for the addition on an underpass to Storrow Drive), though the state promised to replace it.[6][7] In 2016, MassDOT began designing a replacement bridge.[8]

On April 30, 2011, Science Park and Lechmere stations were closed for a complete renovation of Science Park station.[2] The elevated platforms (dating to 1955) were rebuilt, and elevators were added to make the station accessible. The platform level was raised slightly to allow level boarding on low-floor Type 8 trams, while ramps were added to allow wheelchair boarding on older high-floor Type 7 trams. By closing the station during construction, the renovations were completed six months ahead of the original schedule.[9] While both stations were closed, the MBTA operated a free shuttle bus service connecting them to North Station. Science Park station was reopened and regular service between Lechmere and North Station resumed on November 5, 2011.[2]

Only the E branch has served Science Park since service resumed after the 2004–05 closure.[2] On May 24, 2020, service between North Station and Lechmere was temporarily replaced with shuttle buses due to Green Line Extension construction.[2] The station will reopen in March 2022 with D branch service to Union Square, with E branch service to Medford/​Tufts beginning later that year.[10] In January 2022, the MBTA made accessibility improvements on the platforms, including new tactile edge strips.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ "A Guide to Ridership Data". MassDOT/MBTA Office of Performance Management and Innovation. June 22, 2020. p. 8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
  3. ^ "Effective Saturday, November 12th, Green Line Service To Lechmere and Science Park Stations To Resume" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 4, 2005.
  4. ^ "'West End' Added to Science Park" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 21, 2009.
  5. ^ Ryan, Andrew (January 21, 2009). "With new station name, Green Line now stops in West End". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009.
  6. ^ "Part III: Section 4(f) Evaluation". Central Artery (I-93)/Tunnel (I-90) Project: Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Massachusetts Department of Public Works. January 1991. p. III-9 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Bierman, Noah (November 7, 2007). "West End debates planned pedestrian bridge". Boston Globe.
  8. ^ Graham, Jordan (March 27, 2016). "Steps taken for pedestrian bridge over Leverett Circle". Boston Herald.
  9. ^ "Science Park/West End Improvement Project". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012.
  10. ^ DeCosta-Klipa, Nik (October 21, 2021). "The opening of the first Green Line Extension branch has been delayed — again". Boston Globe.
  11. ^ "Week in Review and Lookahead" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 21, 2022.

External links[]

Media related to Science Park station (MBTA) at Wikimedia Commons

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