Medford/Tufts station

File:Headhouse construction at Medford Tufts station (2), March 2022.JPG

Medford/Tufts station is located off Boston Avenue near College Avenue on the northeast side of Walnut Hill in Medford. The Lowell Line runs roughly northwest–southeast through the station area, with the two-track Medford Branch of the Green Line on the south side of the Lowell Line tracks. The station has a single island platform, {{convert|225|feet}} long and {{convert|22.5|feet}} wide, between the Green Line tracks northwest of College Avenue. A canopy covers the full length of the platform.{{Cite web |date=November 19, 2019 |title=Public meeting boards |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-pubilc-meeting-station-boards-november-19-2019/download |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |pages=27–30}}

The platform is {{convert|8|in}} high for accessible boarding on current light rail vehicles (LRVs), and can be raised to {{convert|14|in}} for future level boarding with Type 9 and Type 10 LRVs; it is also provisioned for future extension to {{convert|300|ft|adj=on}} length.{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2017 |title=Execution Version: Volume 2: Technical Provisions |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/projects/glx/contract/glx-technical-provisions.pdf |website=MBTA Contract No. E22CN07: Green Line Extension Design Build Project |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}{{rp|12.1{{hyphen}}5}} The tracks and platform are below grade in a cut. The main entrance is from Boston Avenue on the south side of the tracks, with part of the headhouse structure extending over the southern Green Line track. Stairs plus two elevators for accessibility connect the entrance to the southeast end of the platform.

A starter booth is located at the northwest end of the platform, with an emergency exit ramp to Boston Avenue. A 50-space "Pedal and Park" bike cage is located next to the entrance along Boston Avenue. Public art at the station includes Speeding Green Line – a blurred mural over the station entrance – as well as murals on panels on station signs.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-virtual-cwg-meeting-presentation-february-2-2021/download |title=GLX Community Working Group Monthly Meeting #39 |date=February 2, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |pages=19, 20}} MBTA bus routes {{MBTA bus links|Medford/Tufts|yes}} stop on Boston Avenue near the station.{{MBTA bus links/mapcite}}

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File:Tufts College station, 1907.jpg

The Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) opened through Medford in 1835, though local stops were not added immediately. Stearns Steps station, named for the nearby estate of George Luther Stearns, was located near what is now College Avenue by 1846.{{cite web |url=https://www.winchester.us/DocumentCenter/View/6725/Four-Railroad-Depots |title=The Evolution of Winchester's Four Railroad Depots |first=Ellen |last=Knight |date=2021 |publisher=Town of Winchester}}{{cite book |title=Pathfinder Railway Guide for the New England States |publisher=Snow & Wilder |date=December 1849 |oclc=476657834}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AQbIedq11XsC&pg=PA50 |title=The Directory of the City of Boston |page=50 |publisher=George Adams |year=1850 |via=Google Books}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FKc7gEz9M94C&pg=PA77 |page=73 |title=Portrait of an Abolitionist: A Biography of George Luther Stearns, 1809-1867 |first=Charles E. |last=Heller |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=1996 |isbn=9780313298639 |via=Google Books}} Tufts College was founded in 1852; by 1855, the station was called Tufts College. It was located on the west side of the tracks.{{cite web |url=https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:x059c900f |title=Map of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Mass : surveyed by order of the town |last=Kollner |first=Augustus |publisher=H.F. Walling |year=1855}} The stop did not appear in some timetables during its first decade, and may have had intermittent service during that time.{{cite book |title=Boston's Depots and Terminals |first=Richard C. |last=Barrett |page=209 |publisher=Railroad Research Publications |isbn=1884650031 |year=1996}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1o3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA18 |title=ABC Pathfinder Railway Guide |page=18 |date=June 1858 |publisher=New England Railway Publishing Company |via=Google Books}} By September 1858, it was called College Hill and served as a flag stop for six daily round trips – largely local trains serving the Woburn Branch.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Fo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA18 |title=ABC Pathfinder Railway Guide |page=18 |date=September 1858 |publisher=New England Railway Publishing Company |via=Google Books}}

By the 1860s, special service was run to the station for commencement ceremonies.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101324392/boston-evening-transcript/ |title=Tufts College |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=July 8, 1862 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101324517/boston-evening-transcript/ |title=Tufts College |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=July 1, 1863 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}} The first station building was an addition to a residential structure on the north side of the tracks just west of College Avenue.{{cite map |map-url=https://wardmapsgifts.com/collections/atlas-of-middlesex-county-massachusetts-1889/products/medford-massachusetts-1895 |map=Part of Medford |title=Atlas of Middlesex County, Massachusetts |publisher=Geo. H. Walker & Co. |year=1889 |pages=26–27 |scale=1:3,000}} The college's post office was located in the station, with the station agent serving as the postmaster, until a separate post office was built nearby in 1885.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/medfordhistorica00me/page/n153/mode/2up |title=Medford Railroad Stations: Notes and Reminiscences |first=Edward B. |last=Dennison |volume=39 |issue=1 |date=March 1936 |magazine=The Medford Historical Register |via=Internet Archive}} In 1887, the B&L was leased by the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) as its Southern Division.{{cite book |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |edition=2 |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=2017 |isbn=9780942147124 |pages=283, 286}}

On May 3, 1897, the older station building was replaced with a brick structure, located on the opposite side of the tracks and slightly to the south at Pearson Street.{{cite book |url=https://wardmapsgifts.com/collections/medford-massachusetts/products/middlesex-county-massachusetts-1900-vol-1-plate-034-medford |chapter=Plate 34 |year=1900 |title=Atlas of Middlesex County, Massachusetts |volume=1 |publisher=George W. Stadley & Co.}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76375141/the-boston-globe/ |title=Tufts College Notes |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=April 28, 1897 |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}} At that time, it was renamed as Tufts College, matching the post office name, at the request of students.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76375168/the-boston-globe/ |title=Tufts College Station |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 8, 1897 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} The bridge carrying College Avenue over the tracks was replaced in 1898.{{cite web |url={{MACRIS|MDF.901}} |title=Historic Bridge Inventory & Evaluation: College Avenue Bridge |date=January 1982 |first=Warren C. |last=Janigian |via=Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System}} The former station was twice burnt by students during riots after football games in November 1905.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76375199/the-boston-globe/ |title=Once More Fired |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 25, 1905 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}

File:Tufts University station with RDC, September 1977.png

Tufts College station was commonly used by students; special trains operated direct from the station for some away football games.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76375351/the-boston-globe/ |title=Triumphant Home Coming for the Tufts Eleven |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 19, 1917 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}} However, streetcars consolidated under the Boston Elevated Railway cut sharply into local railroad traffic. The college purchased the disused station building for one dollar in 1941 to avoid its demolition by the railroad, and repurposed it as a theatre workshop in 1944.{{cite news |url=https://dl.tufts.edu/downloads/fn107c46z?filename=fq978772v.pdf |title=Tufts College Station Converted Into Three Ps Workshop: One Dollar Buys Ancient Building From B.&M.R.R. |pages=1, 4 |newspaper=The Tufts Weekly |volume=48 |issue=9 |date=May 4, 1944}}{{cite book |chapter-url=https://dl.tufts.edu/teiviewer/parent/9c67wz173/chapter/c15s3 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10427/14802 |page=649 |chapter=Chapter 15: Tufts and a Second World War |title=Light on the hill: A history of Tufts College, 1852-1952 |last=Miller |first=Russell |year=1966|hdl=10427/14802 }} A small wooden shelter was built for passengers.{{cite web |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10427/301 |title=Front view of shelter at Tufts College railroad station |last=Rollins |first=Edwin B. |hdl=10427/301 |via=Tufts Digital Library}} On April 18, 1958, the Public Utilities Commission approved a vast set of cuts to B&M commuter service, including the closure of North Somerville, Tufts College, and Medford Hillside stations.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36829507/the_boston_globe/ |title=Drastic Service Cuts Approved on Five B.& M. Divisions |newspaper=Daily Boston Globe |page=11 |date=April 19, 1958 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} The three stations were closed on May 18, 1958, amid the first of a series of cuts.{{cite book |title=Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years |last1=Humphrey |first1=Thomas J.|last2=Clark |first2=Norton D. |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |year=1985 |isbn=9780685412947 |page=57}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36816192/the_boston_globe/ |title=B.&M. Closes Saugus Branch, 3 Other Lines |newspaper=Daily Boston Globe |date=May 17, 1958 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the B&M reopened several inner-suburb commuter rail stations in response to community desire for service that was faster if less frequent than buses. Tufts University station near the Tufts College station site was scheduled to open on October 12, 1976.{{cite news |title-link=:commons:File:Tufts Weekly 1976-09-24 page 3 "Boston commuter trains to stop at Tufts".JPG |title=Boston commuter trains to stop at Tufts |first=Warren |last=Reynolds |date=September 24, 1976 |newspaper=Tufts Weekly |page=3 |via=Wikimedia Commons}} The opening was delayed by a disagreement between the B&M and the university over liability insurance. As the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) took over the system, the new agency agreed to take on the liability.{{cite news |title-link=:commons:File:Tufts Weekly 1977-01-28 page 6 "Train service starts in Feb.".jpg |title=Train service starts in Feb. |date=January 28, 1976 |newspaper=Tufts Weekly |page=6 |via=Wikimedia Commons}} The university paid $2,000 ({{inflation|US-GDP|2000|1976|r=-2|fmt=eq}}) of the $4,600 ({{inflation|US-GDP|4600|1976|r=-3|fmt=eq}}) cost of the small platform, with the rest paid by the MBTA. Service began on September 1, 1977, with an opening ceremony held on September 15.{{cite news |title-link=:commons:File:Tufts Weekly 1977-09-16 page 3 "Tufts railroad stop opened".jpg |title=Tufts railroad stop opened |date=September 16, 1977 |newspaper=Tufts Weekly |first=Kirk |last=Weinert |page=3 |via=Wikimedia Commons}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/annualreportmass1977mass |title=1977 Annual Report |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |year=1977}} The station was abandoned in October 1979 due to poor ridership.{{NETransit}}

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The Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) opened Lechmere station in 1922 as a terminal for streetcar service in the Tremont Street subway.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52267267/the-boston-globe/ |title=New Lechmere Sq Transfer Station, Open for L Traffic |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=July 10, 1922 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} That year, with the downtown subway network and several radial lines in service, the BERy indicated plans to build three additional radial subways: one paralleling the Midland Branch through Dorchester, a second branching from the Boylston Street subway to run under Huntington Avenue, and a third extending from Lechmere Square northwest through Somerville.{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1922 |title=Three New Subways Planned |page=71 |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52404512/the-boston-globe/ |via=Newspapers.com}}

The Report on Improved Transportation Facilities, published by the Boston Division of Metropolitan Planning in 1926, proposed extension from Lechmere to North Cambridge via the Southern Division and the 1870-built cutoff. Consideration was also given to extension past North Cambridge over the Lexington Branch, and to a branch following the Southern Division from Somerville Junction to Woburn.{{Cite web |last=Central Transportation Planning Staff |date=November 15, 1993 |title=The Transportation Plan for the Boston Region - Volume 2 |url=http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/boston.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010505072732/http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/boston.html |archive-date=May 5, 2001 |publisher=National Transportation Library}}{{Cite book |title=Report on Improved Transportation Facilities in Boston |date=December 1926 |publisher=Division of Metropolitan Planning |pages=6, 7, 34, 35 |hdl=2027/mdp.39015049422689}}

In 1945, a preliminary report from the state Coolidge Commission recommended nine suburban rapid transit extensions – most similar to the 1926 plan – along existing railroad lines. These included an extension from Lechmere to Woburn over the Southern Division, rather than using the Fitchburg Cutoff. Tufts College was to be among the intermediate stations.{{Cite book |last=Clarke |first=Bradley H. |title=Streetcar Lines of the Hub - The 1940s |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |year=2003 |isbn=0938315056}}{{rp|16}}{{Citation |last1=Boston Elevated Railway |title=Air View: Present Rapid Transit System – Boston Elevated Railway and Proposed Extensions of Rapid Transit into Suburban Boston |date=April 1945 |last2=Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities |title-link=:commons:File:1945 BERy extensions map.jpg |via=Wikimedia Commons}}{{Cite news |last=Lyons |first=Louis M. |date=April 29, 1945 |title=El on Railroad Lines Unified Transit Plan |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83587536/the-boston-globe/ 14] |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83587444/the-boston-globe/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The 1962 North Terminal Area Study recommended that the elevated Lechmere–North Station segment be abandoned. The Main Line (now the Orange Line) was to be relocated along the B&M Western Route; it would have a branch following the Southern Division to Arlington or Woburn.{{Cite book |last=Barton-Aschman Associates |url=https://archive.org/details/northterminalare00bart |title=North Terminal Area Study |date=August 1962 |pages=iv, 51, 59–61 |via=Internet Archive}}

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was formed in 1964 as an expansion of the Metropolitan Transit Authority to subsidize suburban commuter rail service, as well as to construct rapid transit extensions to replace some commuter rail lines.{{rp|15}} In 1965, as part of systemwide rebranding, the Tremont Street subway and its connecting lines became the Green Line.{{NETransit}} The 1966 Program for Mass Transportation, the MBTA's first long-range plan, listed a short extension from Lechmere to Washington Street as an immediate priority, with a second phase reaching to {{bts|Mystic Valley Parkway}} (Route 16) or {{bts|West Medford}}.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/comprehensivedev00mass/page/n87/mode/2up |title=A Comprehensive Development Program for Public Transportation in the Massachusetts Bay Area |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |year=1966 |pages=V-20 – V-23 |via=Internet Archive}}

The 1972 final report of the Boston Transportation Planning Review listed a Green Line extension from Lechmere to {{bts|Ball Square}} as a lower priority, as did several subsequent planning documents.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bostontransporta00mass/mode/2up |title=Boston Transportation Planning Review Final Study Summary Report |date=February 1973 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Construction |pages=15, 17 |via=Internet Archive}} In 1980, the MBTA began a study of the "Green Line Northwest Corridor" (from {{bts|Haymarket}} to Medford), with extension past Lechmere one of its three topic areas. Extensions to Tufts University or {{bts|Union Square|Green|D}} were considered.{{Cite journal |last=McCarthy |first=James D. |title=Boston's Light Rail Transit Prepares for the Next Hundred Years |url=http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr221/221-019.pdf |journal=Special Report 221: Light Rail Transit: New System Successes at Affordable Prices |publisher=Transportation Research Board |pages=286–308 |issn=0360-859X}}{{rp|308}}{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2004 |title=Beyond Lechmere Northwest Corridor Project Project History |url=https://www.somervillestep.org/files/GreenAdvisory_ProjectHistory_060304.pdf |publisher=Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership}}

A 1991 agreement between the state and the Conservation Law Foundation, which settled a lawsuit over auto emissions from the Big Dig, committed to the construction of a "Green Line Extension To Ball Square/Tufts University".{{Cite journal |last=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=October 4, 1994 |title=Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Massachusetts—Amendment to Massachusetts' SIP (for Ozone and for Carbon Monoxide) for Transit Systems Improvements and High Occupancy Vehicle Facilities in the Metropolitan Boston Air Pollution Control District) |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/59-FR-50498 |journal=Federal Register |volume=59 FR 50498}} No progress was made until an updated agreement was signed in 2005.{{Cite news |last=Daniel |first=Mac |date=May 19, 2005 |title=$770m transit plans announced |pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83909659/the-boston-globe/ B4] |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83909630/the-boston-globe/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The Beyond Lechmere Northwest Corridor Study, a Major Investment Study/alternatives analysis, was published in 2005. The analysis studied a variety of light rail, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail extensions, most of which included a Ball Square station near the former North Somerville station site. The highest-rated alternatives all included an extension to West Medford with College Avenue as one of the intermediate stations.{{Cite book |last=Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705134151/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/docs_beyondLechmere.html |title=Beyond Lechmere Northwest Corridor Study: Major Investment Study/Alternatives Analysis |date=August 2005 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |chapter=Chapter 4: Identification and Evaluation of Alternatives – Tier 1 |chapter-url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/beyondLechmere/MIS8-05-Chapter4.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705151132/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/beyondLechmere/MIS8-05-Chapter4.pdf |archivedate=July 5, 2016}} {{cbignore}}

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works submitted an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs in October 2006. The EENF identified a Green Line extension with Medford and Union Square branches as the preferred alternative.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705151301/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/RelRegulatory/ExpandedENF.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/RelRegulatory/ExpandedENF.pdf |title=Green Line Extension Expanded Environmental Notification Form |date=October 2006 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works |author=TranSystems |pages=4–6}} That December, the Secretary of Environmental Affairs issued a certificate that required analysis of the terminal location in the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the Green Line Extension (GLX). The EENF had proposed College Avenue, with a possible extension to a second station at Winthrop Street; the certificate also required analysis of a single station between the two streets, and of a further extension to {{bts|Route 16}}. The certificate also required consideration of Lowell Line stations at Tufts University and {{bts|Gilman Square}} to provide a connection between commuter rail and rapid transit.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705151236/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/RelRegulatory/SecretaryCertificate.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/RelRegulatory/SecretaryCertificate.pdf |date=December 1, 2006 |title=Certificate of the Secretary of Environmental Affairs on the Expanded Environmental Notification Form |first=Robert W. Jr. |last=Golledge |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs}} Planned station sites were announced in May 2008.{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Andrew |date=May 7, 2008 |title=Potential Green Line stops announced in Somerville, Medford |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/05/potential_green.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510114546/http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/05/potential_green.html |archive-date=May 10, 2008}}{{Cite web |last=Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc |date=May 1, 2008 |title=Green Line Extension Project |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/advGroup0709/Mtg6_050508/OverviewMap050508.pdf |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705150638/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/advGroup0709/Mtg6_050508/OverviewMap050508.pdf |archivedate=July 5, 2016}} A single station between College Avenue and Winthrop Street was recommended due to lower cost, better station spacing, and the ability to avoid modifying the College Avenue and Winthrop Street bridges.{{Cite web |last=Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc |date=May 2, 2008 |title=Green Line Extension Project: Summary of Station Evaluations/Site Selections |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/advGroup0709/Mtg6_050508/StationLocation050508.pdf |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705150637/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/advGroup0709/Mtg6_050508/StationLocation050508.pdf |archivedate=July 5, 2016}}

The DEIR, released in October 2009, did not recommend the construction of a commuter rail platform at Gilman Square or Tufts University. The width of a platform and a gauntlet track for freight would require additional right-of-way width, which would have substantial impacts on adjacent properties.{{Cite book |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705134146/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/docs_draftEIR.html |title=Green Line Extension Project Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Statement |date=October 2009 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works; Federal Transit Administration |chapter=Appendix B: Station and Alignment Selection Analysis |pages=13–16, 30–32 |chapter-url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/App_B_thru_J/133_AppB_StationAlignSelAnalysis.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705145947/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/App_B_thru_J/133_AppB_StationAlignSelAnalysis.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016}} {{cbignore}} It also recommended a single station at College Avenue, as the previously planned combined station would have had poor pedestrian access from neighborhoods north of the tracks. A separate Winthrop Street station was not recommended, as its catchment area overlapped with the College Avenue and Route 16 stations.{{rp|4}} However, Route 16 was deferred to a future phase, making College Avenue the terminus.{{rp|40}} Preliminary plans in the DEIR called for the station to have a single island platform northwest of College Avenue. A two-level headhouse with stairs, an escalator, and two elevators would have entrances from a plaza at the intersection of Boston Avenue and College Avenue.{{Cite book |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705134146/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/docs_draftEIR.html |title=Green Line Extension Project Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Statement |date=October 2009 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works; Federal Transit Administration |chapter=Chapter 3: Alternatives |chapter-url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol1Text/10_DEIR_EA_V1_CH3_Alts.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705144443/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol1Text/10_DEIR_EA_V1_CH3_Alts.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016}} {{cbignore}}{{rp|49}}{{Cite book |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705134146/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/docs_draftEIR.html |title=Green Line Extension Project Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Statement |date=October 2009 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works; Federal Transit Administration |chapter=Chapter 3: Alternatives |chapter-url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol1Text/10_DEIR_EA_V1_CH3_Alts.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705144443/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol1Text/10_DEIR_EA_V1_CH3_Alts.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016}} {{cbignore}} Figures [https://web.archive.org/web/20160705144804/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol2Fig/047_DEIR_EA_V2_Fig3_7-22CollegeAveLayout1_3.pdf 3.7-22], [https://web.archive.org/web/20160705144810/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol2Fig/049_DEIR_EA_V2_Fig3_7-24CollegeAvePlan.pdf 3.7-24], [https://web.archive.org/web/20160705144813/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol2Fig/050_DEIR_EA_V2_Fig3_7-25CollegeAveCirculation.pdf 3.7-25], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160705144823/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/draftEIR/Vol2Fig/051_DEIR_EA_V2_Fig3_7-26CollegeAveElevation.pdf 3.7-26].

The 2010 final environmental impact report added several mitigations for traffic, noise, and vibration associated with College Avenue being the terminal station.{{Cite book |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705134140/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/docs_finalEIR.html |title=Green Line Extension Project Final Environmental Impact Report |date=June 2010 |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works; Federal Transit Administration |chapter=Chapter 4: College Avenue Station |chapter-url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/FinalEIR/vol1/03_GLX_FEIR_V1_Chap1_to_9.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705141946/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/FinalEIR/vol1/03_GLX_FEIR_V1_Chap1_to_9.pdf|archive-date=July 5, 2016}} {{cbignore}} Updated plans shown in June 2011 added a pedestrian path to Burget Avenue.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705135747/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/StaWrkshps2011/CollegeAveWrkshpPres.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/StaWrkshps2011/CollegeAveWrkshpPres.pdf |title="Station Design Workshop": College Avenue Station |date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} Plans presented in February 2012 enlarged the entrance plaza, added an emergency exit ramp at the northwest end of the station, and relocated the bike cage.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705135629/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/ballSq_collegeAve_presentation032112.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/ballSq_collegeAve_presentation032112.pdf |title='Station Design Meeting': Ball Square and College Avenue Stations |date=March 7, 2012 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}}{{cite web |title=Ball Square and College Avenue Station Design Meeting |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705135627/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/ballSq_collegeAve_minutes032112.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/ballSq_collegeAve_minutes032112.pdf |date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} By 2012, the portion of the Medford Branch from Gilman Square station to College Avenue was expected to be completed by June 2019.{{cite web |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/about/FactSheets/FactSheet_110512.pdf |title=Green Line Extension Project: Fall 2012 Fact Sheet |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=February 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607134318/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/about/FactSheets/FactSheet_110512.pdf |url-status=dead }} A Tufts University commuter rail station to supplement the Green Line station was again listed as a possibility in 2012 as an interim air quality mitigation measure in response to delays in building the Green Line Extension. However, such a station would have been costly to build and could not have been completed by the 2015 deadline, and was thus not supported by MassDOT.{{cite web |title=Green Line Extension SIP Mitigation Inventory |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/SIP_Inventory030112.pdf |author=Central Transportation Planning Staff |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=January 23, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030232922/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/SIP_Inventory030112.pdf |archive-date=October 30, 2014}}

File:College Avenue station site, July 2015.JPG

A further update in June 2013 removed the electric penthouse and reconfigured the headhouse and emergency exit ramp.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705135505/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/staDesign/CollegeAve_062013.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/staDesign/CollegeAve_062013.pdf|title=College Avenue Station Design Meeting |pages=19–37 |date=June 20, 2013 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705135520/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/staDesign/CollegeAve_Minutes062013.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/staDesign/CollegeAve_Minutes062013.pdf |title=Public Meeting – Summary Minutes |date=June 20, 2013 |pages=2–4 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} Design was then paused while Phase 2/2A stations ({{bts|Lechmere}}, {{bts|Union Square|Green|D}}, and {{bts|East Somerville}}) were prioritized, as they were scheduled to open sooner than the rest of the GLX. Design resumed in fall 2014; by May 2015, elements of College Avenue station ranged between 30% and 90% design.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705135004/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/staDesign/BallSquare_CollegeAve_051415.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/PubMtgs/staDesign/BallSquare_CollegeAve_051415.pdf |date=May 14, 2015 |title=Ball Square & College Avenue Stations |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}} In June 2015, Tufts announced plans to build a new university building on College Avenue. One-third of the structure was to be over the Green Line station, with a footbridge over Boston Avenue to the main campus area.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/06/22/tufts-build-over-new-green-line-station/GTjDFRB8oL1AOkX0a1X1LI/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718153856/https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/06/22/tufts-build-over-new-green-line-station/GTjDFRB8oL1AOkX0a1X1LI/story.html |archive-date=July 18, 2015 |title=Tufts to build over new Green Line station |first=Jack |last=Newsham |newspaper=Boston Globe |date= June 22, 2015}}

In August 2015, the MBTA disclosed that project costs had increased substantially, triggered a wholesale re-evaluation of the GLX project.{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/08/24/ballooning-cost-green-line |title=Ballooning Cost Throws Future Of Green Line Extension Into Question |newspaper=WBUR |first=Andy |last=Metzger |date=August 24, 2015}} In December 2015, the MBTA ended its contracts with four firms. Construction work in progress continued, but no new contracts were awarded.{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/12/10/green-line-extension-contracts |title=MBTA Ending Several Contracts Associated With Green Line Extension Project |newspaper=WBUR |date=December 10, 2015 |first=Abby Elizabeth |last=Conway}} At that time, cancellation of the project was considered possible, as were elimination of the Union Square Branch and other cost reduction measures.{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/12/09/green-line-extension-what-to-do |title=Axing Green Line Extension Still On The Table, Pollack Says |newspaper=WBUR |date=December 9, 2015 |first=Abby Elizabeth |last=Conway}}{{cite web |url=https://old.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Board_Meetings/2015%2012%2009%20GLX%20VE%20MassDOT%20and%20FMC%20Boards%20ISSUE%20FINAL%20copy.pdf |title=Cost Reduction Opportunities |author=Arup |date=December 9, 2015 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency}} In May 2016, the MassDOT and MBTA boards approved a modified project that had undergone value engineering to reduce its cost. Stations were simplified to resemble D branch surface stations rather than full rapid transit stations, with canopies, faregates, escalators, and some elevators removed. The escalator was removed from the College Avenue station design; the emergency exit ramp was replaced with an at-grade track crossing.{{cite book |title=Interim Project Management Team Report: Green Line Extension Project |url=https://old.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Board_Meetings/GLXBOARDREPORTFINALv2.pdf |publisher=MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board and the MassDOT Board of Directors |date=May 9, 2016 |pages=5, 6, 46}}{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2016 |title=State OK's a cut-down Green Line extension |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89356496/the-boston-globe/ |first=Nicole |last=Dungca |newspaper=Boston Globe |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89356514/the-boston-globe/ A9] |via=Newspapers.com}}

In December 2016, the MBTA announced a new planned opening date of 2021 for the extension.{{cite news |last=Dungca |first=Nicole |date=December 7, 2016 |title=New Green Line stations are delayed until 2021 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/07/new-green-line-stations-opening-delayed/S9Gc1c6PtbiSz7Wj3FVKkM/story.html |newspaper=Boston Globe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209145509/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/07/new-green-line-stations-opening-delayed/S9Gc1c6PtbiSz7Wj3FVKkM/story.html |archive-date=December 9, 2016}} A design-build contract for the GLX was awarded in November 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/11/20/green-line-extension-contract-officially-approved/LpPWSUubsnzWbFtgTceDhI/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124110730/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/11/20/green-line-extension-contract-officially-approved/LpPWSUubsnzWbFtgTceDhI/story.html |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |title=Green Line extension contract officially approved |date=November 20, 2017 |newspaper=Boston Globe |first=Adam |last=Vaccaro}} The winning proposal included six additive options – elements removed during value engineering – including full-length canopies at all stations. The emergency exit ramp was re-added to the station design, and a pedestrian bridge was added adjacent to the College Avenue road bridge to avoid a larger reconstruction of the bridge.{{Cite press release |title=Green Line Extension Project Design-Build Team Firm Selected |date=November 17, 2017 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/green-line-extension-project-design-build-team-firm-selected/ |last1=Jessen |first1=Klark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128223614/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/green-line-extension-project-design-build-team-firm-selected/ |archive-date=January 28, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/fmcb-meeting-docs/2017/november/2017-11-20-fmcb-glx-update.pdf |title=GLX Program Update |date=November 20, 2017 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}{{cite book |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/projects/glx/contract/glx-technical-proposal-first-half.pdf |title=Response to the Request for Proposal for the Green Line Extension Design Build Project |publisher=GLX Constructors |date=September 2017}} ([https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/projects/glx/contract/glx-technical-proposal-second-half.pdf Volume 2]) Station design advanced from 5% in March 2018 to 75% that December and to 95% in October 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/january-30-2019-glx-public-meeting-presentation/download |title=GLX Project Open House |page=14 |date=January 30, 2019 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation}}

File:Medford Tufts station headhouse under construction, December 2021.JPG

By the time construction on the new Tufts building – the Joyce Cummings Center – began in 2019, the footbridge and the portion over the station had been eliminated from the design.{{cite press release |url=https://now.tufts.edu/2019/09/18/new-center-multidisciplinary-studies |title=A New Center for Multidisciplinary Studies |date=September 18, 2019 |publisher=Tufts University}}{{cite web |url=https://operations.tufts.edu/construction/files/2020/02/2020-0212-TUFTS_community-meeting-DRAFT.pdf |title=Tufts University Cummings Center: Community Update |date=February 12, 2020 |publisher=Tufts University}} On January 2, 2020, the MBTA and Tufts announced that the station would be named Medford/Tufts.{{cite news |url=https://now.tufts.edu/articles/new-mbta-green-line-station-be-named-medfordtufts |newspaper=Tufts Now |title= New MBTA Green Line Station to Be Named "Medford/Tufts" |publisher=Tufts University |date=January 2, 2020 |access-date=January 2, 2020}} Tufts would pay $2 million in maintenance costs over 10 years in exchange for the name.{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/01/03/green-line-extension-medford-tufts-station |title=Tufts is paying $2 million to name a Green Line Extension station |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 3, 2020 |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa}}

Construction on the station began by August 2020, with retaining wall work preceding it.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-community-working-group-meeting-presentation-august-4-2020/download |title=GLX Community Working Group Monthly Meeting: August 4, 2020 |date=August 4, 2020 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |page=11}} The {{convert|100|ft|adj=on}}-long, {{convert|13.5|short ton|kg|adj=on}} pedestrian bridge was put in place on May 8, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-virtual-cwg-meeting-presentation-june-1-2021/download |title=GLX Community Working Group Monthly Meeting #43 |date=June 1, 2021 |page=23 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} Both elevator shafts were erected later that month.{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/192653806@N05/51219776417/in/dateposted/ |title=Elevator shaft installation at Medford-Tufts Station. May 27, 2021 |publisher=GLX Constructors |date=May 27, 2021 |via=Flickr}} The concrete platform was poured in June 2021 – months later than the other GLX stations – with the emergency exit ramp under construction by that time.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-virtual-cwg-meeting-presentation-july-6-2021/download |title=GLX Community Working Group Monthly Meeting #44 |date=July 6, 2021 |page=35 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} The headhouse and the platform canopy were constructed in the second half of 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-virtual-cwg-meeting-presentation-september-7-2021/download |title=GLX Community Working Group Monthly Meeting #46 |date=September 7, 2021 |page=26 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-virtual-cwg-meeting-presentation-november-2-2021/download |title=GLX Community Working Group Monthly Meeting #48 |date=November 2, 2021 |page=15 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}

Original plans called for the D branch to be extended to Medford/Tufts.{{cite web |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/FTA_NewStarts/NewStartsSubmittal_FY2012/Attachments/Attachment_10P_OMP_010611.pdf |title=MBTA Light Rail Transit System OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PLAN |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=January 6, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307152841/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/FTA_NewStarts/NewStartsSubmittal_FY2012/Attachments/Attachment_10P_OMP_010611.pdf |archivedate=March 7, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/FTA_NewStarts/NewStartsSubmittal_FY2012/Attachments/Attachment_3_Combined.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307152239/http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/documents/FTA_NewStarts/NewStartsSubmittal_FY2012/Attachments/Attachment_3_Combined.pdf |archivedate=March 7, 2017 |work=Green Line Extension Project: FY 2012 New Starts Submittal |title=Travel Forecasts: Systemwide Stats and SUMMIT Results |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=January 2012}} However, in April 2021, the MBTA indicated that the Medford Branch would instead be served by the E branch.{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/04/09/mbta-green-line-extension-union-square-october |title=The MBTA is planning to open part of the Green Line Extension this October |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=April 9, 2021 |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa |accessdate=April 9, 2021}} A pedestrian bridge parallel to College Avenue was installed on May 8, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/glx-virtual-cwg-meeting-presentation-june-1-2021/download |title=GLXC Construction Update |first=Jeff |last=Wagner |date=June 1, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |page=23}} By March 2021, the station was expected to open in December 2021.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2021-03/2021-03-29-fmcb-9-report-from-general-manager.pdf |title=Report from the General Manager |date=March 29, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |page=20}} In June 2021, the MBTA indicated an additional delay, under which the station was expected to open in May 2022.{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2021-06/2021-06-21-fmcb-14-green-line-extension-update.pdf |page=19 |title=Green Line Extension Update |first=John |last=Dalton |date=June 21, 2021 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} In February 2022, the MBTA announced that the Medford Branch would open in "late summer".{{Cite news |last=Lisinski |first=Chris |date=February 24, 2022 |title=Green Line Extension service to begin March 21 |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/02/24/mbta-somerville-green-line-open |access-date=February 25, 2022 |website=WBUR}} Train testing on the Medford Branch began in May 2022.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-extension-glx/update/train-testing-begins-new-green-line-medford-branch |title=Train Testing Begins on New Green Line Medford Branch |date=July 5, 2022 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} In August 2022, the planned opening was delayed to November 2022.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2022-08-05/building-better-t-glx-medford-branch-open-late-november-2022-shuttle-buses-replace |title=Building A Better T: GLX Medford Branch to Open in Late November 2022; Shuttle Buses to Replace Green Line Service for Four Weeks between Government Center and Union Square beginning August 22 |date=August 5, 2022 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}} The Medford Branch, including Medford/Tufts station, opened on December 12, 2022.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2022-12-12/mbta-celebrates-opening-the-green-line-extension-medford-branch |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |title=MBTA Celebrates Opening of the Green Line Extension Medford Branch |date=December 12, 2022}}

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• [https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-mdftf MBTA – Medford/Tufts]

{{MBTA Subway Stations}}

{{Tufts University}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medford Tufts station}}

Category:Green Line (MBTA) stations

Category:Railway stations in Medford, Massachusetts

Category:Railway stations in Massachusetts at university and college campuses

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1977

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2022

Category:Green Line Extension

Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1979