Box District station

Box District station is located northeast of downtown Chelsea near the north end of Highland Street. The Silver Line busway runs roughly northwest-southeast through the station site, with the Chelsea Greenway paralleling the south side of the busway. Two accessible side platforms flank the busway, with an arched concrete-and-glass canopy connecting the platforms. A crosswalk is located just east of the platforms to allow passengers to cross the busway. Primary access to the station is from the Chelsea Greenway, with street connections at Broadway {{convert|600|feet}} to the west and Highland Street just to the east; a sidewalk also follows the north side of the busway southeast to Griffin Way.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331072007/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/meeting_Presentation081814.pdf |archivedate=March 31, 2018 |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/meeting_Presentation081814.pdf |title=Silver Line Gateway: Extension of Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Chelsea and East Boston: Public Informational Meeting: Chelsea, MA |date=August 18, 2014 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |pages=13, 18}}

The freight-only Grand Junction Railroad opened through Everett and Chelsea in 1852 to serve the East Boston docks.{{cite book |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |edition=2 |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-942147-12-4 |location=Pepperell, Massachusetts |pages=}}{{rp|336}} The Grand Junction tracks in Chelsea were largely unused after the Chelsea Creek bridge burned in 1955. In 2002, CSX Transportation began the process of abandoning the Grand Junction from 2nd Street in Everett through Chelsea to East Boston; the proceedings were delayed by negotiations with the city of Chelsea to acquire the right-of-way.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220150441/https://www.chelseama.gov/sites/chelseama/files/uploads/csxrig-2.pdf |archivedate=December 20, 2016 |url=https://www.chelseama.gov/sites/chelseama/files/uploads/csxrig-2.pdf |page=43 |title=CSX ROW Multi-Use Path Feasibility/Conceptual Design Study |date=June 2011 |publisher=City of Chelsea, MA |author=Fay, Spofford & Thorndike}}{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102234605/https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/MPD/78432/85257CA7006C955B85256B7A005DB40F/204939.pdf |archivedate=November 2, 2021 |url=https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/MPD/78432/85257CA7006C955B85256B7A005DB40F/204939.pdf |title=Docket No. AB-565 (Sub-No. 7X) |publisher=Surface Transportation Board |author1=New York Central Lines, LLC |author2=CSX Transportation, Inc. |date=March 8, 2002 |name-list-style = amp}}

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) planned to reuse the right-of-way for the Urban Ring Project – a planned circumferential bus rapid transit (BRT) line designed to connect the current radial MBTA rail lines.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708181035/https://www.commentmgr.com/projects/1169/docs/URnews0105c.pdf |archivedate=July 8, 2011 |url=https://www.commentmgr.com/projects/1169/docs/URnews0105c.pdf |title=Urban Ring Phase 2 FACT SHEET |date=January 2009 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation}} Under draft plans released in 2008, a dedicated busway was to be built from Griffin Way west through Chelsea along the right-of-way. A BRT stop was to be located on Griffin Way near Eastern Avenue, about {{convert|1/3|mile|1}} southeast of where Box District station was later built.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514232004/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/theurbanring/downloads/Plan_Profile_Drawings.pdf |archivedate=May 14, 2017 |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/theurbanring/downloads/Plan_Profile_Drawings.pdf |title=The Urban Ring Phase 2: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation |date=November 2008}} The Urban Ring Project was shelved in January 2010 due to high costs.{{cite web |url=http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/mepadocs/2010/012710em/pn/14.pdf |title=Re: Urban Ring Phase 2, EOEEA #12565 |date=January 22, 2010 |last=Mullan |first=Jeffery B. |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323171512/http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/mepadocs/2010/012710em/pn/14.pdf |archivedate=March 23, 2020}}

File:Box District station construction, June 2017.JPG

That June, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) purchased the disused Grand Junction right-of-way from 2nd Street to East Boston, to be landbanked for future transportation use.{{rp|337}} Planning for some smaller corridors continued; the Chelsea–South Boston section was given high priority because Chelsea was densely populated yet underserved by transit.{{cite web |url=https://www.ctps.org/data/calendar/pdfs/2012/10.31_SilverLine.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011235655/https://www.ctps.org/data/calendar/pdfs/2012/10.31_SilverLine.pdf |archive-date=2019-10-11 |url-status=live|title=Work Program for: MBTA Silver Line to Chelsea: Alternatives Analysis, Phase 2 |first=Karl H. |last=Quackenbush |date=November 1, 2012 |publisher=Central Transportation Planning Staff}} A 2011 state study analyzed potential Chelsea transit improvements, including a Silver Line branch or improvements to the route {{MBTABus|112}} bus. One Silver Line alternative followed the Urban Ring route to the Chelsea commuter rail station; the other ran on surface streets to the south.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820232458/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/Sl-toAirportandChelsea_CTPS.pdf |archivedate=August 20, 2015 |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/Sl-toAirportandChelsea_CTPS.pdf |title=Analysis of Silver Line Service to Airport Station and Chelsea |first=Scott |last=Peterson |publisher=Central Transportation Planning Staff}}

In March 2013, the MBTA began studying an extension of the Silver Line to Chelsea via a newly constructed bypass road in East Boston. Three alternatives were discussed for the Chelsea section. One would run up the disused section of the Grand Junction Railroad right-of-way from Eastern Avenue to Chelsea station with stops at {{bts|Eastern Avenue}}, Highland/Box District, the existing Chelsea station, and Mystic Mall. The second alignment would follow the Grand Junction to just short of Bellingham Square, then diverge onto surface roads to the square. The third alignment would run largely on surface streets, serving two stops on Central Avenue and four stops along a loop serving the existing Chelsea station and the MGH Chelsea healthcare center near Mystic Mall.{{cite web |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SL_Gateway_June_19_2013_English_Accessible.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826052230/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SL_Gateway_June_19_2013_English_Accessible.pdf |archivedate=August 26, 2015 |title=Silver Line Gateway Alternatives Analysis |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=June 19, 2013}} In September 2013, the MBTA indicated that it would pursue the first alternative despite potential issues with bridge clearances and rebuilding Chelsea station.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820232307/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SLG_092413_English.pdf |archivedate=August 20, 2015 |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SLG_092413_English.pdf |title=Silver Line Gateway Alternatives Analysis: Public Meeting – September 18, 2013 |date=September 18, 2013 |last=Hamwey |first=Scott |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}}

On October 30, 2013, MassDOT announced $82.5 million in state funding for construction of a modified version of the first alternative, with service expected to begin in late 2015.{{cite press release |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/governor-patrick-announces-mbta-silver-line-expansion/ |title=Governor Patrick Announces MBTA Silver Line Expansion |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=October 30, 2013 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105012250/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/governor-patrick-announces-mbta-silver-line-expansion/ |url-status=dead }} The Environmental Impact Report was issued in March 2014.{{cite book |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023132443/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SLGateway_SEIR_Final_03-31-14.pdf |archivedate=October 23, 2014 |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SLGateway_SEIR_Final_03-31-14.pdf |title=Silver Line Gateway Service to Chelsea, East Boston & the Blue Line: Single Environmental Impact Report (Single EIR): EEA # 15124 |date=March 31, 2014 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} The $33.8 million main construction contract was approved in September 2014, and construction began in March 2015.{{cite press release |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-silver-line-to-chelsea-approved/ |title=MBTA Silver Line to Chelsea Approved |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326023346/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-silver-line-to-chelsea-approved/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://old.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Board_Meetings/H2.%20%20%20Silver%20Line.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109023638/https://old.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Board_Meetings/H2.%20%20%20Silver%20Line.pdf |archive-date=2021-11-09 |url-status=live|title=Silver Line Gateway |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=June 5, 2017 |page=3}}{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315211706/https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/silverlinegateway/ProjectOverview.aspx |archivedate=March 15, 2018 |url=https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/silverlinegateway/ProjectOverview.aspx |title=Silver Line Gateway Project Overview |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=March 2018}} By June 2017, the opening had been pushed back to April 2018.{{cite news |last1=Vaccaro |first1=Adam |title=Silver Line service to Chelsea to begin next spring |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/06/05/silver-line-chelsea-open-next-spring/Ao9CcyhhoGMqorIba9YCWP/story.html |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=June 6, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606033339/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/06/05/silver-line-chelsea-open-next-spring/Ao9CcyhhoGMqorIba9YCWP/story.html |archivedate=June 6, 2017}} Silver Line service to Chelsea on the {{MBTABus|SL3}} route began on April 21, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/fmcb-meeting-docs/2018/march/2018-03-12-fmcb-silverline3.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174329/https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/fmcb-meeting-docs/2018/march/2018-03-12-fmcb-silverline3.pdf |archive-date=2019-02-14 |url-status=live|title=Silver Line 3 Update |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=March 12, 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-boxdt MBTA – Box District]
• [https://www.google.com/maps/@42.393657,-71.0281513,3a,37.1y,335.15h,90.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_YOHCjZa8hobG0yacGOuNQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en Station on Google Maps Street View]

Category:Chelsea, Massachusetts

Category:Silver Line (MBTA) stations

Category:Bus stations in Suffolk County, Massachusetts