Chelsea station (MBTA)

File:Inbound train leaving Chelsea station, December 2023.JPG

The station is located west of Everett Avenue in the west part of Chelsea, behind the Mystic Mall shopping center. Two {{convert|800|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} high-level side platforms serve the two tracks of the Newburyport/Rockport Line, which runs roughly east–west at the station site. Canopies cover the east ends and portions of the centers of the platforms. Ramps lead to the Everett Avenue grade crossing from the east ends of the platforms, and to the Third Street crossing from the west ends. The Silver Line busway runs along the south side of the commuter rail tracks, crossing Everett Avenue at grade. A balloon loop is located west of Everett Avenue; {{convert|12x60|ft|adj=on}} bus platforms with concrete canopies are located on both sides of the loop. The station is accessible on both modes.{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2014 |title=Silver Line Gateway: Extension of Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Chelsea and East Boston: Public Informational Meeting: Chelsea, MA |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/meeting_Presentation081814.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331072007/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/meeting_Presentation081814.pdf |archive-date=March 31, 2018 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |pages=7, 28}} MBTA bus local routes {{MBTA bus links|Chelsea|yes}} stop at Mystic Mall near the station.{{MBTA bus links/mapcite}}

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| caption = East Everett station (left) on an 1897 Sanborn map

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The freight-only Grand Junction Railroad opened through Everett and Chelsea in 1852 to serve the East Boston docks.{{Cite book |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-942147-12-4 |edition=2}}{{rp|336}} On April 10, 1854, the Eastern Railroad opened a line from Revere to Boston, with trackage rights over the Grand Junction from Chelsea to Somerville. This replaced the Eastern's 1838-built mainline from Revere to East Boston – which required a ferry connection to reach downtown Boston – as the railroad's primary Boston entry. In 1868, the Eastern built its own tracks on the north side of the Grand Junction tracks.

The Eastern Railroad opened East Everett station in 1880. Located at the end of Boston Street just west of 2nd Street, about {{convert|1/3|mile|1}} west of the modern station, it served residential areas to the southeast. The one-story wooden station building was constructed by nearby property owners at a cost of $1,000 ({{inflation|US-GDP|1000|1880|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1880 |title=A New Railway Station at East Everett |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36798342/the_boston_globe/ |work=Boston Daily Globe |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2014 |title=East Everett station, Everett, Mass. |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/bmrrhs/12172455383/ |publisher=Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society |via=Flickr}}{{Cite book |url=http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3764em.g037251910 |title=Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Everett, Middlesex County, Massachusetts |publisher=Sanborn Map Company |year=1910 |page=Plate 50 |no-pp=yes}} The Eastern Railroad was acquired by the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) in 1885.

Streetcars and later automobiles cut heavily into the profitability of local commuter rail service; the B&M closed the station building in 1932, though some trains continued to stop.{{Cite news |date=April 21, 1932 |title=Boston & Maine asks right to abandon three stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36792114/the_boston_globe/ |work=Boston Daily Globe |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1932 |title=B. & M. is granted right to abandon four stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36792165/the_boston_globe/ |work=Boston Daily Globe |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} The building was demolished around 1933.{{Cite news |date=July 15, 1933 |title=How would you like to live in a railroad station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50898665/the-boston-globe/ |work=Boston Globe |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} The stop was served by only one weekday-only round trip by 1946, and was abandoned entirely by 1952.{{Cite book |title=Northern New England Travel Guide |title-link=:commons:File:Boston and Maine Railroad 1946 timetable.pdf |date=April 28, 1946 |publisher=Boston and Maine Railroad |pages=14–15 |via=Wikimedia Commons}}{{Citation |title=Passenger Train Schedules |date=April 27, 1952 |pages=14, 15 |publisher=Boston and Maine Railroad |title-link=:commons:File:April 1952 Boston and Maine Railroad timetable.pdf |via=Wikimedia Commons}} The remaining local stops on the line south of Lynn were closed in 1958.{{Cite book |last=Humphrey |first=Thomas J. |title=Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years |last2=Clark |first2=Norton D. |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-685-41294-7 |pages=75–77}}{{Cite news |date=19 April 1958 |title=Drastic Service Cuts Approved on Five B.& M. Divisions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36829507/the_boston_globe/ |work=Daily Boston Globe |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) began subsidizing remaining B&M service on the line in 1965; it became the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system. On December 27, 1966, an outbound Budd RDC struck an oil tanker truck at the 2nd Street grade crossing, killing 13 people.{{rp|317}} The residential neighborhood around 2nd Street, already planned for urban renewal, was destroyed by the Great Chelsea fire of 1973; it was replaced by industry and the Mystic Mall.{{Cite thesis |last=Concetta Coreth |first=Lake |title=Chelsea Under Fire (thesis) |date=April 2011 |publisher=Boston College Department of History |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2345/1998 |page=52 |hdl=2345/1998}} 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 through Chelsea to East Boston; the proceedings were delayed by negotiations with the city of Chelsea to acquire the right-of-way.{{Cite web |last=Fay, Spofford & Thorndike |date=June 2011 |title=CSX ROW Multi-Use Path Feasibility/Conceptual Design Study |url=https://www.chelseama.gov/sites/chelseama/files/uploads/csxrig-2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220150441/https://www.chelseama.gov/sites/chelseama/files/uploads/csxrig-2.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |publisher=City of Chelsea, MA |page=43}}{{Cite web |last=New York Central Lines, LLC |last2=CSX Transportation, Inc. |date=March 8, 2002 |title=Docket No. AB-565 (Sub-No. 7X) |url=https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/MPD/78432/85257CA7006C955B85256B7A005DB40F/204939.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102234605/https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/MPD/78432/85257CA7006C955B85256B7A005DB40F/204939.pdf |archive-date=November 2, 2021 |publisher=Surface Transportation Board}}

File:Shelters and loop under construction at Chelsea station, June 2017.JPG

Mystic Mall was a proposed stop on the Urban Ring Project – a planned circumferential bus rapid transit (BRT) line designed to connect the current radial MBTA rail lines.{{Cite web |date=January 2009 |title=Urban Ring Phase 2 FACT SHEET |url=https://www.commentmgr.com/projects/1169/docs/URnews0105c.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708181035/https://www.commentmgr.com/projects/1169/docs/URnews0105c.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation}} Under draft plans released in 2008, a dedicated busway was to be built using the disused Grand Junction right-of-way, paralleling the active commuter rail tracks through Everett and Chelsea. Buses would have left the busway to access new surface-level BRT platforms on Everett Street and Spruce Street. The Chelsea commuter rail station would have been rebuilt at its existing site.{{Cite web |date=November 2008 |title=The Urban Ring Phase 2: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/theurbanring/downloads/Plan_Profile_Drawings.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514232004/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/theurbanring/downloads/Plan_Profile_Drawings.pdf |archive-date=May 14, 2017 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation}} The project was shelved in January 2010 due to high costs.{{Cite web |last=Mullan |first=Jeffery B. |date=January 22, 2010 |title=Re: Urban Ring Phase 2, EOEEA #12565 |url=http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/mepadocs/2010/012710em/pn/14.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323171512/http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/mepadocs/2010/012710em/pn/14.pdf |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs}} That June, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) purchased the disused Grand Junction right-of-way from 2nd Street to East Boston, to be land banked 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 |last=Quackenbush |first=Karl H. |date=November 1, 2012 |title=Work Program for: MBTA Silver Line to Chelsea: Alternatives Analysis, Phase 2 |url=https://www.ctps.org/data/calendar/pdfs/2012/10.31_SilverLine.pdf |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. The Silver Line alternatives terminated at the Chelsea commuter rail station or Bellingham Square and did not serve the Mystic Mall area.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Scott |title=Analysis of Silver Line Service to Airport Station and Chelsea |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/Sl-toAirportandChelsea_CTPS.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820232458/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/Sl-toAirportandChelsea_CTPS.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |publisher=Central Transportation Planning Staff}}

In March 2013, the MBTA began studying a possible 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 |date=June 19, 2013 |title=Silver Line Gateway Alternatives Analysis |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SL_Gateway_June_19_2013_English_Accessible.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826052230/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SL_Gateway_June_19_2013_English_Accessible.pdf |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} 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 |last=Hamwey |first=Scott |date=September 18, 2013 |title=Silver Line Gateway Alternatives Analysis: Public Meeting – September 18, 2013 |url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SLG_092413_English.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820232307/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/31/Docs/SLG_092413_English.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}}

File:Outbound train passing Chelsea station construction, July 2021.JPG

On October 30, 2013, MassDOT announced $82.5 million in state funding for construction of a modified version of the first alternative. A new $20 million Chelsea commuter rail station would be constructed at the Mystic Mall busway terminus to replace the existing station. This new station would make the commuter rail station fully accessible, with longer platforms so that trains would not block grade crossings while stopped. The Silver Line would have a new Bellingham Square stop at the old commuter rail station location. Service was expected to begin in late 2015.{{Cite press release |title=Governor Patrick Announces MBTA Silver Line Expansion |date=October 30, 2013 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/governor-patrick-announces-mbta-silver-line-expansion/ |access-date=March 15, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105012250/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/governor-patrick-announces-mbta-silver-line-expansion/ |archive-date=November 5, 2013}} The Environmental Impact Report was issued in March 2014.{{Cite book |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 |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}} A $33.8 million construction contract was approved in September 2014, and construction began in March 2015.{{Cite press release |title=MBTA Silver Line to Chelsea Approved |date=September 17, 2014 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-silver-line-to-chelsea-approved/ |access-date=March 17, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326023346/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-silver-line-to-chelsea-approved/ |archive-date=March 26, 2018}}{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2017 |title=Silver Line Gateway |url=https://old.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Board_Meetings/H2.%20%20%20Silver%20Line.pdf |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |page=3}}{{Cite web |date=March 2018 |title=Silver Line Gateway Project Overview |url=https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/silverlinegateway/ProjectOverview.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315211706/https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/silverlinegateway/ProjectOverview.aspx |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} By June 2017, opening had been pushed back to April 2018.{{Cite news |last=Vaccaro |first=Adam |date=June 6, 2017 |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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606033339/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/06/05/silver-line-chelsea-open-next-spring/Ao9CcyhhoGMqorIba9YCWP/story.html |archive-date=June 6, 2017 |work=Boston Globe}} Silver Line service to Chelsea on the SL3 route began on April 21, 2018.{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Silver Line 3 Update |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/fmcb-meeting-docs/2018/march/2018-03-12-fmcb-silverline3.pdf |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}

The MBTA opened bidding for the contract to construct the new commuter rail station (which also includes installation of several nearby traffic signals and demolition of the existing station) in February 2019, with an expected cost of $26.7 million.{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2019 |title=Notice to Bidders |url=http://bc.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/pdf/K02CN01%20NTB.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190213194532/http://bc.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/pdf/K02CN01%20NTB.pdf |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |access-date=February 13, 2019 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} A $32.4 million contract was awarded in April 2019, with completion then expected in late 2021.{{Cite press release |title=MBTA Board Awards Contract for New Commuter Rail Station in Chelsea |date=April 29, 2019 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2019-04-29/mbta-board-awards-contract-new-commuter-rail-station-chelsea}} Construction of the project (which has a total cost of $37.7 million) began in August 2019.{{Cite press release |title=Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Beginning of Chelsea Commuter Rail Construction |date=September 16, 2019 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/baker-polito-administration-celebrates-beginning-of-chelsea-commuter-rail-construction/ |access-date=September 18, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924010616/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/baker-polito-administration-celebrates-beginning-of-chelsea-commuter-rail-construction/ |archive-date=September 24, 2019}} The supports for the outbound platform were completed by April 2020, and the platforms were installed that August.{{Cite press release |title=Platform Work Continues at Chelsea Commuter Rail Station |date=May 4, 2020 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/chelsea-commuter-rail-station/update/platform-work-continues-chelsea-commuter-rail-station}}{{Cite press release |title=Train Platform Work Progressing at Chelsea Commuter Rail Station |date=August 13, 2020 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/chelsea-commuter-rail-station/update/train-platform-work-progressing-chelsea-commuter-rail}} The station reached 70% completion in March 2021.{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2021 |title=Report from the General Manager |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2021-03/2021-03-29-fmcb-9-report-from-general-manager.pdf |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |page=15}} It opened on November 15, 2021, replacing the commuter rail platforms at Bellingham Square (which remains a Silver Line stop).{{Cite press release |title=New Chelsea Commuter Rail Station Opens November 15 |date=November 1, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/chelsea-commuter-rail-station/update/new-chelsea-commuter-rail-station-opens-november-15}} A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on December 15.{{Cite press release |title=MBTA Celebrates Completion of Chelsea Commuter Rail Station |date=December 15, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2021-12-15/mbta-celebrates-completion-chelsea-commuter-rail-station}} Service on the inner portion of the Newburyport/Rockport Line was suspended for several periods in March–September 2022 to accommodate signal work on the line.{{NETransit}} The Encore Boston Harbor casino ran shuttles to Chelsea station from the casino's June 2019 opening until July 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.encorebostonharbor.com/transportation/encore-local-shuttles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008201638/https://www.encorebostonharbor.com/transportation/encore-local-shuttles |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |publisher=Encore Boston Harbor |title=Encore Local Shuttle Service}}{{cite news |url=https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/encore-casino-is-making-changes-to-free-shuttle-service/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726182017/https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/encore-casino-is-making-changes-to-free-shuttle-service/ |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |title=Encore Casino Is Making Changes To Free Shuttle Service |newspaper=WBZ NewsRadio |date=July 24, 2024}}

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• [https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-chels MBTA – Chelsea]
• Google Maps Street View: [https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3968105,-71.0400566,3a,75y,256.08h,89.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdQ91QTgU8sVkg1Hd--0nng!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 Everett Avenue], [https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3977916,-71.0448602,3a,36.4y,106.8h,89.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJKYUbJUc4Aatpmji278gDg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 3rd Street]

Category:Chelsea, Massachusetts

Category:2018 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:MBTA Commuter Rail stations in Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2021

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2018

Category:Silver Line (MBTA) stations

Category:Bus stations in Suffolk County, Massachusetts