Babcock Street station

{{Short description|Light rail station in Boston, Massachusetts, US}}

{{Infobox station

| name = Babcock Street

| style = MBTA

| style2 = Green

| image = Outbound train at Babcock Street station (2), September 2024.jpg

| image_caption = An outbound train at Babcock Street station in December 2021

| alt = A light rail train at a surface station in the median of an urban street

| address = Commonwealth Avenue at Babcock Street

| borough = Boston, Massachusetts

| coordinates = {{coord|42.3516|-71.1199|region:US-MA_type:railwaystation_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}

| other = {{ric|MBTA|Bus|name=y}}: {{MBTA bus links|Babcock Street}}

| platform = 2 side platforms

| tracks = 2

| bicycle =

| passengers = Weekday average boardings:{{MBTA Bluebook 2014}}
Babcock Street: 1,387
Pleasant Street: 1,167

| pass_year = 2011

| opened = {{start date|1896|05|18}}

| closed =

| rebuilt = 1970s; November 15, 2021

| accessible = Yes

| former =

| services = {{Adjacent stations|system=MBTA|line=Green|type=B|left=Packards Corner|right=Amory Street}}

| other_services_header = Former services

| other_services_collapsible = yes

| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system=MBTA|line=Green|type=A|left=Packards Corner|right=Pleasant Street}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|MBTA|Green}}

| mapframe-marker = rail-light

| mapframe-zoom = 14

}}

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.

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 Alcorn Street – moved east to Babcock Street around 1975 – and Pleasant 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 Babcock Street station and nearby Amory Street station began in February 2021; they opened on November 15, 2021.

Station layout

Babcock Street station is located in the median of Commonwealth Avenue between Harry Agganis Way and Babcock Street, adjacent to the West Campus section of Boston University. The station has two accessible {{convert|225|feet|adj=on}}-long side platforms serving the two tracks of the B branch. The platforms are located in the middle of the {{convert|720|feet|adj=on}}-long block, with walkways from the platforms to both streets. Each platform has a {{convert|150|feet|adj=on}}-long canopy for passengers, with wavy colored panels on both sides.

History

=Streetcar service=

File:MBTA 3090 inbound at Pleasant Street, August 1968.jpg

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 {{bts|Union Square|Green|A}} on May 18, 1896.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/annualreporto18831921west#page/n225/mode/2up |title=Ninth Annual Report of the West End Street Railway Company for the Year Ending September 30, 1896 |page=5 |year=1896 |publisher=Walker, Young & Co |via=Internet Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59417143/the-boston-globe/ |title=New Electric Line |newspaper=The Boston Globe |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 9, 1895 |page=7}} {{open access}}{{cite book |title=Tremont Street Subway: A Century of Public Service |last1=Clarke |first1=Bradley H. |last2=Cummings |first2=O.R. |year=1997 |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |isbn=0938315048}}{{rp|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.{{rp|48}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53147218/the-boston-globe/ |title=Subway Notice |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=November 6, 1897 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} The Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) leased the West End Street Railway on October 1, 1897, and continued its system expansion.{{rp|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.{{rp|58}} The Nonantum Square line was extended to Watertown Yard in 1912, forming the service pattern for the next half-century.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54535763/the-boston-globe/ |title=To Watertown Car Barn |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=December 7, 1912 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

The new Braves Field opened on August 18, 1915; it included a loop track between Gaffney Street and Babcock Street with a prepayment station to allow streetcars to directly serve the ballpark.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/electricrailway461915newy#page/620/mode/2up |title=Handling Traffic at Largest Baseball Park |magazine=Electric Railway Journal|date=September 25, 1915 |page=621 |volume=46 |issue=13 |via=Internet Archive}} The loop was also used to turn trains for Red Sox games at Fenway Park, and for rush-hour short turns; after November 1945, these short turns also operated during midday and on Saturdays.{{cite book |title=Streetcar Lines of the Hub – The 1940s |last=Clarke |first=Bradley H. |year=2003 |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |isbn=0938315056}}{{rp|108}} It was heavily used during games; for the 1948 World Series, streetcars ran between Park Street and Braves Field on 45-second headways.{{rp|109}} Boston University purchased Braves Field in 1953 when the Braves moved to Milwaukee, and soon wished to use the loop area for other purposes. After several years of requests, the loop was abandoned on January 15, 1962.{{cite book |title=Streetcar Lines of the Hub: Boston's MTA Through Riverside and Beyond |first=Bradley H. |last=Clarke |year=2015 |isbn=9780938315070 |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association}}{{rp|214}} The site was proposed for a transfer station (to allow rapid transit service through the subway to {{bts|Lechmere}}) in 1921.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96937781/the-boston-globe/ |title=For Braves Field and Lechmere Sq. |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=September 2, 1921 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}} The proposed station was moved west to {{bts|Harvard Avenue}} the next year, and ultimately was never built.{{rp|59}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96936457/the-boston-globe/ |title=Dana Outlines New Elevated Plan |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=June 26, 1922 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}

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.{{cite book |title=Trolleys Under the Hub |last1=Cheney |first1=Frank |last2=Sammarco |first2=Anthony M. |year=1997 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=0752409077 |page=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.{{NETransit}} By 1972, stops with small platforms were located at Alcorn Street and Pleasant Street.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/1972-green-line-surface-stops |title=Plan for Acquisition and Use of Railroad Rights-of-Way |chapter=Green Line Station Mileage from Lechmere |year=1972 |author=Thomas K. Dyer Inc. |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} Around 1975, the Alcorn Street stop was relocated east to Babcock Street.{{cite thesis |title=Strategies for meeting future capacity needs on the light rail MBTA Green Line |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |date=June 2017 |first=David A. |last=Sindel|hdl = 1721.1/111263|type=Thesis }}{{rp|45}}

=Stop consolidation=

File:Inbound train at Babcock Street station, July 2019.JPG

In 2014, the MBTA began planning to consolidate four stops – {{bts|Boston University West}}, {{bts|Saint Paul Street|Green|B}}, 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.{{cite press release |title=Comm. Ave. Green Line Improvements Public Meeting |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2014-10-16/comm-ave-green-line-improvements-public-meeting |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=October 16, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2016/commonwealth-avenue-improvement-project/ |title=Comm Ave Remake Kicks Off |date=November 3, 2016 |newspaper=BU Today |access-date=January 20, 2022 |first=Joel |last=Brown}} Pleasant Street and Babcock Street stations would be consolidated into one station in the block between the two streets.{{cite news |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2014/t-may-eliminate-two-green-line-b-stops |title=T May Eliminate Two Green Line B Stops |newspaper=BU Today |date=October 23, 2014 |last=O'Rourke |first=John |accessdate=December 31, 2021}} Work was delayed by the need to complete other roadwork on Commonwealth Avenue.{{cite web |url=http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Riding_the_T/Accessible_Services/Accessible_Services_List/SWA%20Initiatives_December%202016%20Update_12.5.16.pdf |title=MBTA System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives: December 2016 Update |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility |first=Laura |last=Brelsford |date=December 5, 2016 |page=22 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015230/http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Riding_the_T/Accessible_Services/Accessible_Services_List/SWA%20Initiatives_December%202016%20Update_12.5.16.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The MBTA awarded a $17.8 million construction contract on March 23, 2020.{{cite press release |url=https://mbta.com/news/2020-03-23/fmcb-awards-178-million-b-branch-station-consolidation-work |title=FMCB Awards $17.8 Million for B Branch Station Consolidation Work |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=March 23, 2020}} Construction was set to last from February 2021 to early 2022, with night and weekend bustitution (replacement with bus service) for much of 2021.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2021-01/2021-01-28-glt-b-branch-station-consolidation-meeting-presentation.pdf |title=B Branch Station Consolidation Project: Virtual Public Meeting |date=January 28, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} In February 2021, the MBTA announced that the new stop replacing Babcock Street and Pleasant Street would be named Babcock Street.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2021-02-11/mbta-announces-names-new-stations-part-green-line-b-branch-station-consolidation |title=MBTA Announces Names of New Stations as Part of Green Line B Branch Station Consolidation Project |date=February 11, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} Pleasant Street station permanently closed on February 26, 2021, so that construction of the replacement station could begin. 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.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2021-03-31/building-better-t-green-line-b-branch-station-consolidation-project-work-taking |title=Building a Better T: Green Line B Branch Station Consolidation Project Work Taking Place for Seven Weeks, Washington Street – Kenmore Work Begins April 17 |date=March 31, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-b-branch-station-consolidation/update/b-branch-accelerated-work-100-complete |title=B Branch Accelerated Work 100% Complete |date=June 14, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} On July 30, 2021, two westbound trains collided next to the under-construction station, causing 25 injuries.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/31/metro/green-line-service-restored-following-friday-night-crash/ |title=NTSB investigating Green Line crash that left 25 injured; MBTA operator placed on leave |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=July 31, 2021 |first=Laura |last=Crimaldi}}

The old Babcock Street station was closed at the end of service on Friday, November 12, 2021. After a weekend closure, the new Babcock Street station opened on November 15; the former station was soon removed.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-b-branch-station-consolidation/update/new-babcock-street-and-amory-street |title=New Babcock Street and Amory Street Stations Open November 15 |date=November 12, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}

References

External links

[https://mbta.com/stops/place-babck MBTA – Babcock Street]

Category:Green Line (MBTA) stations

Category:Railway stations in Boston

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2021