Science Park (MBTA station)

SCIENCE PARK/WEST END

Elevated platforms after 2011 renovation, looking inbound (southeastward)
Location Nashua & Charles Street at Charles River Dam at Leverett Circle, Boston MA.
Coordinates 42°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
Owned by MBTA
Line(s)
  Green Line "E" Branch
Platforms 2 side platforms
Construction
Parking None available
Disabled access Yes
History
Opened August 20, 1955
Rebuilt April 30 - November 4, 2011
Traffic
Passengers (2013) 1,042 (weekday average boardings)[1]
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station
toward Heath Street
Green Line
Terminus

Science Park (signed as Science Park/West End) is an elevated light rail station on the MBTA Green Line, and 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 on the Lechmere Viaduct, which connects North Station to the Lechmere terminus of the Green Line. As of 2015, the station is served only by the Green Line "E" Branch, which runs from Heath Street to Lechmere. The station is located at an area of land called Science Park, which it is named after. It is near the Boston Museum of Science.

Science Park is one of a small number of elevated rapid transit stations remaining in the MBTA system. (The only others are Beachmont on the Blue line; Malden Center on the Orange Line; and Wollaston, Charles/MGH, and Fields Corner on the Red Line.) Boston once had several elevated lines, but the Atlantic Avenue Elevated, Charlestown Elevated, Washington Street Elevated, and Causeway Elevated were all torn down in favor of subway and surface-level lines. The station is an infill station, since Green Line trains passed frequently on existing tracks through the site for many years, before the station was built.

Science Park is not served by any regularly scheduled MBTA Bus service.

History

Science Park station in August 1955 just after opening
Science Park before renovations

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 July 1930. However, there was no station located on the viaduct itself until Science Park station opened on August 20, 1955,[2] with the station's name likely inspired by the opening of the Museum of Science nearby in 1951.

On January 21, 2009, station signage was changed to read "Science Park/West End",[3] although the longer name does not always appear on MBTA maps or publications.[4]

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 handicapped 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 6 months ahead of the original schedule.[5] 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]

As of 2015, the station is served solely by the Green Line "E" Branch. However, when the Green Line Extension is completed around 2019, the "D" Branch will be extended to College Avenue and begin serving Science Park in addition to the "E" Branch, which will be extended to Union Square. Additionally, one or more of the "B", "C", or "D" branches may be extended to Lechmere as a temporary air quality improvement measure due to delays in the Green Line Extension.[6]

Station layout

Track Layout
to Lechmere
to North Station
Platform level Side platform, doors will open on the right
Outbound ← Green Line "E" Branch toward Lechmere (Terminus)
Inbound → Green Line "E" Branch toward Heath Street (North Station) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right
Ground Street Level Exit/Entrance

References

  1. ↑ "Ridership and Service Statistics" (PDF) (14 ed.). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Belcher, Jonathan (23 April 2012). "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). NETransit. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  3. ↑ ‘West End’ Added to Science Park. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Ryan, Andrews (21 Jan 2011). With new station name, Green Line now stops in West End. Boston.com. Retrieved on 31 March 2011.
  5. ↑ Science Park/West End Improvement Project. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  6. ↑ Central Transportation Planning Staff (23 January 2012). "Green Line Extension SIP Mitigation Inventory" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
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