Green Line C branch

File:PCC Streetcars at Cleveland Circle, 1951.jpg

File:Boston Boeing LRV 3463 on Beacon St crossing Washington St in 1987.jpg US Standard Light Rail Vehicle crossing Washington Street in 1987]]

The first tracks on Beacon Street were laid in 1888, running from Massachusetts Avenue west to Coolidge Corner. The next year the rest of the line to Cleveland Circle opened, with access to the Reservoir carhouse. In 1889, the first electric streetcar route (see Green Line A branch) used Beacon Street from Coolidge Corner east to Massachusetts Avenue, then ran south on Massachusetts Avenue and east on Boylston Street to Park Square. That same year, the line on Beacon Street to Cleveland Circle was electrified. Another connection to the Beacon Street line was provided at {{bts|Washington Square}}; streetcars came from Brookline Village along Washington Street and turned west on Beacon Street. This line was later extended north on Chestnut Hill Avenue and west on Commonwealth Avenue to {{bts|Boston College}} and was the predecessor of the {{MBTABus|65}} bus route.

The Tremont Street subway opened on September 1, 1897; Beacon Street service was routed into the Public Garden incline at the Public Garden, turning around at {{bts|Park Street}}.{{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|57}} The Boylston Street subway opened on October 3, 1914 as a westward extension of the Tremont Street subway. The Beacon Street line entered just east of Kenmore Square.{{rp|57}}

On November 21, 1914, rush hour Washington Street service was cut back to Reservoir, leaving only Beacon Street cars using the Chestnut Hill Avenue tracks.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54438561/the-boston-globe/ |title=Some of Old Lines are Discontinued |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 20, 1914 |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} Beacon Street service was cut to Reservoir on November 6, 1915, with Washington Street service extended back to Lake Street.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54438577/the-boston-globe/ |title=Lake St and Reservoir Car Changes |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 6, 1915 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} Beginning on February 6, 1922, all Washington Street service was operated as a Brookline Village–Lake Street shuttle as part of service changes on the Huntington Avenue line.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52878704/the-boston-globe/ |title=New 2-Car Trains on Huntington Av Feb 6 |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 24, 1922 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} The Washington Street shuttle was converted to bus on April 24, 1926.{{Humphrey Bus Report|page=}}{{rp|197}} It was redirected to Brighton Center on June 23, 1928, and eventually became route 65.{{rp|52}}

On December 14, 1929, most trips of the {{bts|Kenmore}}–{{bts|Lechmere}} shuttle were extended along Beacon Street to {{bts|Washington Square}}. This resulted in {{frac|2|1|2}}-minute rush-hour headways on the inner part of the line, with three-car Washington Square–Lechmere trains and two-car Cleveland Circle–Park Street trains on alternating 5-minute headways.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52221048/the-boston-globe/ |title=Added "L" Service on Beacon-St Line |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=December 13, 1929 |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} On January 9, 1930, the BERy began running Washington Square-bound streetcars express from Kenmore to {{bts|Kent Street}} in the afternoon peak due to crowding.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52224778/the-boston-globe/ |title=To Prevent Crowding of Reservoir-Beacon Cars |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 8, 1930 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} The Washington Street service was cut back to Kenmore in June 1930 but resumed that September.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52222222/the-boston-globe/ |title=Several Changes in "L" Service Effective Today |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=June 7, 1930 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52226295/the-boston-globe/ |title=Crash of Trolleys Blocks Governor Sq |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=July 25, 1930 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

On February 7, 1931, Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street service was extended from Park Street to Lechmere using three-car trains; the Washington Street short turns were cut back to Kenmore–Park Street shuttles.{{cite journal |title=Boston's Main Line El: The Formative Years 1879-1908 |first=George Jr. |last=Chasson |journal=Headlights |publisher=Electric Railroader's Association |volume=49 |year=1987 |editor=Lonto, Arthur J. |pages=25–26}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38891556/the_boston_globe/ |title=Lake St, Reservoir, to Lechmere trains |date=February 5, 1931 |newspaper=Boston Globe |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} On October 23, 1932, a westward extension of the subway was opened with an underground Kenmore station. It split into separate tunnels for the Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street lines; the latter surfaced at {{bts|Saint Mary's Street}}.{{rp|57}} The first use of two-car trains of PCC streetcars on the system was on the Beacon Street line on April 16, 1945.{{rp|100}} At that time, service on the line operated every 2.8 minutes at morning peak, 6 minutes midday, and 2.7 minutes in the afternoon peak.{{rp|202}} The first use of a three-car train of PCC cars was on July 13, 1946 for a baseball extra; they entered regular service on September 16, 1946.{{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|100}} From 1940 until its 1967 naming as the C branch, the Beacon Street line had route number 61.{{rp|100}}

The Riverside Line (later the D branch) was connected to the Beacon Street tunnel near Mountfort Street, with service beginning on July 4, 1959.{{rp|63}} On November 20, 1961, after 30 years running to Lechmere, the line was cut back to {{bts|North Station|Green}} (except Sundays). It was extended back to Lechmere on March 25, 1967; Saturday service was briefly cut to {{bts|Government Center}} from June–September 1968.{{NETransit}} From June 8 to September 11, 1974, D branch trains ran over the C branch due to track work. Trains used a temporary loop at Reservoir and non-revenue tracks on Chestnut Hill Avenue to cross between the two lines. From March 20 to June 25, 1976, C branch night service looped at Kenmore to allow electrical work in the central subway.

Boeing LRVs were first used on the line on January 20, 1978. By March 24, three-car trains of PCC streetcars were no longer used on the C branch; all service was two-car trains of PCCs or LRVs. From June to September 1979, all service on the line was with PCCs due to LRV maintenance issues. The line was cut back to Government Center except at rush hour from March 21 to June 21, 1980, and cut back to Park Street on April 4, 1981. The line was extended to Government Center on June 26, 1982, with LRVs providing all service.

From July 24 to September 10, 1982, the line was replaced by buses to allow for track replacement. Four stops were permanently closed to speed travel times. Service was extended to North Station on July 30, 1983; this was the terminal until a cut to Government Center on March 29, 1997. It was extended again to North Station on January 1, 2005. The C branch was cut to Government Center on October 24, 2021, as part of changes in preparation for the opening of the Green Line Extension later in the year.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014192326/https://www.mbta.com/alerts/subway |archivedate=October 14, 2021 |title=Alerts: Subway |url=https://www.mbta.com/alerts/subway |date=October 14, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}

All C branch service was replaced with buses from July 5 to August 1, 2020, to allow for track and platform work. Eleven grade crossings, {{convert|8500|feet}} of track, and the crossover at Cleveland Circle were replaced as part of the work, and all jointed track was welded together.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2020-08/2020-08-03-GLC-finall-summary.pdf |title=C Branch 28-Day Full Access |date=August 2020 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} C branch service was replaced by buses from July 11 to 22, 2022, to allow for trackwork and installation of train protection system equipment.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-track-upgrades-2022/update/c-branch-track-upgrades-july-11-22 |title=C Branch Track Upgrades July 11 - 22 |date=July 8, 2022 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} From August 6–20, 2022, some C branch service was extended to {{bts|Union Square|Green|D}} while the E branch was closed for track work.

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File:Inbound train at Washington Square station, April 2016.JPG

The introduction of low-floor LRVs in 2000 allowed for accessible service on the Green Line. In the early 2000s, the MBTA modified key surface stops with raised platforms as part of the Light Rail Accessibility Program. Portable lifts were installed at Coolidge Corner and Cleveland Circle around 2000.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220063458/http://www.bostonmpo.org/bostonmpo/pmt-old/PMT-1.pdf |archive-date=February 20, 2012 |url=http://www.bostonmpo.org/bostonmpo/pmt-old/PMT-1.pdf |title=Executive Summary |work=Program of Mass Transportation |date=January 2004 |publisher=Boston Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization |page=2-9}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010701041753/http://www.mbta.com/text-only/schedmaps/map/map.pdf |archive-date=July 1, 2001 |url=http://www.mbta.com/text-only/schedmaps/map/map.pdf |title=Subway Map |date=2001 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} Four surface stops – {{bts|Saint Mary's Street}}, Coolidge Corner, {{bts|Washington Square}}, and Cleveland Circle – were modified with raised platforms in 2002–03.

Track work in 2018–19, which included replacement of platform edges at several stops, triggered requirements for accessibility modifications at those stops.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2021-05/2021-05-28-swa-initiatives-accessible.pdf |title=System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—May 2021 |date=May 24, 2021 |first=Laura |last=Brelsford |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility |pages=4–5}} Design work for {{bts|Englewood Avenue}}, {{bts|Tappan Street}}, {{bts|Fairbanks Street}}, {{bts|Brandon Hall}}, {{bts|Summit Avenue|Green|C}}, {{bts|Saint Paul Street|Green|C}}, {{bts|Kent Street}}, and {{bts|Hawes Street}} (all the remaining C Branch surface stops save for Dean Road) was 15% complete by June 2023.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2023-06/2023-06-05-swa-initiatives-june-2023-accessible.pdf |title=System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—June 2023 |date=June 5, 2023 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility |page=4}} Designs for the stations (including Dean Road) were shown in February 2024. Kent Street station would be closed, while Fairbanks Street and Brandon Hall would be consolidated into a single station. Longer-term plans include island platforms at Coolidge Corner and Cleveland Circle, and relocation of the platforms at Washington Square and Saint Mary's Street.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2024-04/02-15-2024-green-line-c-branch-accessibility-upgrades.pdf |title=Green Line C Branch Accessibility Upgrades |date=February 15, 2024 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} In May 2024, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the MBTA $67 million to construct accessible platforms at the 14 B and C branch stops.{{multiref2|{{cite web |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/grant-programs/all-stations-accessibility-program-fy24-projects |title=All Stations Accessibility Program FY24 Projects |date=May 28, 2024 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration}}|{{cite press release |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/news/biden-harris-administration-announces-343-million-modernize-transit-stations-improve |title=Biden-Harris Administration Announces $343 Million to Modernize Transit Stations, Improve Accessibility Across the Country |date=May 28, 2024 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration}}|{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2024-05-30/mbta-wins-67-million-federal-grant-improve-green-line-accessibility-people |date=May 30, 2024 |publisher=assachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |title=MBTA Wins $67 Million Federal Grant to Improve Green Line Accessibility for People with Disabilities}}}} {{As of|June 2024}}, construction is expected to be complete in fall 2026.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2024-06/2024-06-Accessibility-Initiatives.pdf |title=Accessibility Initiatives—June 2024 |date=June 25, 2024 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |page=5}}

File:Kent Street MBTA station, Brookline MA.jpg

The C branch runs on a dedicated median on Beacon Street in Brookline, with a total of 18 grade crossings at major cross streets.{{cite web |url=https://maps.google.com |title=Google Maps |publisher=Google Maps |year=2011 |access-date=27 September 2011}} Like on its sister B branch, C branch streetcars must stop on traffic signals at street crossings. The signals on Beacon Street in Brookline could in theory be prioritized to make the Green Line run faster. However, the MBTA, which would be expected to pay for the streetcar sensors, does not consider the project to be cost-effective.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/02/beacon_gets_smart_lights_but_t_isnt_along_for_the_ride |title=Beacon gets smart lights, but T isn't along for the ride |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=2 December 2007 |author=Masis, Julie |access-date=31 July 2011}} In 2007, the Boston Globe published letters from riders who are in favor of these sensors,{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/09/cracking_the_code_its_all_boston/ |title=Letters |date=9 December 2007 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=31 July 2011}} a letter from the MBTA spokesperson arguing that a major study is needed before the MBTA spends money,{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/16/alderman_knows_best_a_somervillian_begs_to_differ |title=Letters |date=16 December 2007 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |access-date=31 July 2011}} and a letter arguing that the T's spokesperson is giving too many excuses.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/30/too_many_excuses_coming_from_t_spokesman |title=Letters |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=30 December 2007 |access-date=31 July 2011}}

In January 2008, the MBTA hired a consultant to study the issue.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/27/t_may_get_edge_on_beacon_st/ |title=T may get edge on Beacon St. |author=Masis, Julie |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=27 January 2008 |access-date=31 July 2011}} {{As of|2011}}, the Town of Brookline was considering formally asking the MBTA to cooperate in setting up traffic signal prioritization to speed up Green Line trains on Beacon Street.{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Brock|title=Brookline mulling how to speed up C Line along Beacon Street|url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/brookline/2011/01/brookline_mulling_how_to_speed.html|access-date=2011-08-02|newspaper=boston.com (The Boston Globe)|date=January 11, 2011}}

In Mayor Marty Walsh's "Go Boston 2030" plan, prioritizing traffic signals on Beacon Street was a proposed idea. The plan indicated that the project is planned to be completed within five years.{{cite web|title=Go Boston 2030 Full Plan|url=https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/go_boston_2030_-_full_report_to_download.pdf|access-date=7 August 2017|page=168|date=7 March 2017|archive-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420013547/https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/go_boston_2030_-_full_report_to_download.pdf|url-status=dead}}

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File:Washington Square MBTA station, Brookline MA.jpg

File:Cleveland Circle (MBTA station).JPG

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Attached KML}}

• [https://www.mbta.com/schedules/Green-C/line MBTA – Green Line C]
• [https://www.mbta.com/projects/c-branch-station-accessibility-improvements MBTA – C Branch Station Accessibility Improvements]

{{MBTA|state=collapsed}}

{{MBTA Subway Stations}}

Category:Green Line (MBTA)

Category:Railway lines opened in 1889