Boston University East station

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.

Boston University East
An inbound train at Boston University East station in July 2019
General information
LocationCommonwealth Avenue at Granby Street
Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°20′58″N 71°06′14″W / 42.349569°N 71.103866°W / 42.349569; -71.103866
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transport MBTA bus: 57
Construction
AccessibleYes
History
Opened1894 (1894)[1]
RebuiltMarch 18, 2002–November 18, 2003[2]
Previous namesGranby Street
Passengers
20111,747 (weekday average boardings)[3]
Services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Boston University Central Green Line Blandford Street
Former services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
St. Mary's Street
toward Watertown
Green Line
Discontinued 1969
Blandford Street
Location
Map

History

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A streetcar at the station in the 1940s

Owing to its location in front of Warren Towers dormitory and Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University East has the sixth-highest ridership of any station on the B branch.[3] In the early 2000s, the MBTA modified key surface stops with raised platforms for accessibility. Construction at Boston University Central and Boston University East was part of a $32 million modification of thirteen B, C, and E branch stations. [4] During construction, an interim station with temporary platforms between the two stops was used.[5] Construction began on March 18, 2002, a week behind schedule due to delays in finishing up similar work at Harvard Avenue and Washington Street. The project was then expected to be completed within six months.[5]

However, poor weather and limited work periods (as most work could only be done during the four hours at night that no trains used the line) delayed the completion date first to December 2002, then March 2003.[6] The contractor informed the MBTA in early 2003 that they would be unable to complete the work; a new contractor was chosen in mid-2003, but work did not resume until September.[7] The stations were completed and reopened on November 18, 2003.[2]

In March 2024, the MBTA indicated that it was considering future consolidation of Blandford Street and Boston University East into a single station.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Engineering and Maintenance Department (1981). "History of subways, tunnels and elevated lines". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "MBTA Accessibility Program Update On Green Line" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 7, 2003. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003.
  3. ^ a b "Ridership and Service Statistics" (PDF) (14th ed.). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2014.
  4. ^ Rivera, Lydia (July 12, 2001). "The MBTA Continues Accessibility Program At Coolidge Corner Station". MBTA Press Releases. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on October 30, 2001.
  5. ^ a b "BU East, Central T Stop Construction Begins Monday". Daily Free Press. March 15, 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "T construction continues". Daily Free Press. February 7, 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  7. ^ "T stops set for Nov. finish". Daily Free Press. September 22, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  8. ^ "Green Line B Branch Improvements and Accessibility Upgrades" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 22, 2024.
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