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Belmont Center station

From Alfawiki
Belmont Center station
Company typeMBTA Commuter Rail station
IndustryPublic transportation
Founded1852
Headquarters
Belmont, Massachusetts
,
United States
ProductsCommuter rail services
Websitewww.mbta.com/stops/place-FB-0156

Belmont Center station serves the Fitchburg Line on the MBTA Commuter Rail network and is situated in Belmont, Massachusetts. Positioned near the town center at the intersection of Common Street, Concord Avenue, and Leonard Street, it is one of two rail stops within Belmont, the other being Waverley station located in Waverley Square.

The existing facility was built in 1908 as part of a grade separation initiative that raised the railway tracks above street level. It includes two low-level side platforms alongside the elevated tracks. Since it does not have high-level platforms or ramps, the station is currently not accessible.

Initial period

The original Wellington Hill station began operation in 1852, utilizing a former schoolhouse that had been moved to serve as the depot.[1] Around 1879, a new two-story wooden depot was erected; meanwhile, the initial station structure was converted into a summer residence and art studio nearby. In 1975, it was donated to the Belmont Historical Society and relocated across from the present-day station in 1980.[2]

Elevation of tracks

In 1907, to remove the congested grade crossing at Concord Avenue, the rail lines through Belmont Center were elevated. The new station building was constructed in the style of a two-story California Bungalow using 365 tons of fieldstone sourced locally.[2] Passenger service at Belmont Center and Waverley ended in 1958.[3]

MBTA period and accessibility considerations

Rail service recommenced on March 4, 1974, solely on what is now known as the Fitchburg Line after discontinuation of the Central Mass Branch in 1971.[3] Weekend operations were suspended in 1981 due to financial constraints but reinstated in 1993.[3]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The historic 1908 station building is currently owned by the Belmont Lions Club and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.[2][4]

The Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line Improvement Implementation Plan from 2005 suggested merging Waverley and Belmont stations into a single site.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In 2015, due to substantial expenses associated with making Waverley accessible, MBTA considered closing either Waverley or Belmont stations.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name By January 2016, plans to reconstruct Belmont Center at its existing location were discontinued.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

In 2024, MBTA piloted a temporary standalone accessible platform at Beverly Depot designed to provide interim compliance with accessibility standards without extensive station renovations. Belmont Center has been identified as a candidate location for this affordable platform solution in future projects.[5]

See also

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bhs
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named depots
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named netransit
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nris
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named may2024
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