Box District station
| Company type | Bus rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | April 21, 2018 |
| Headquarters | Chelsea, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Silver Line bus rapid transit service (MBTA) |
Box District station serves as a bus rapid transit stop within the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Silver Line network, situated in Chelsea, Massachusetts. This fully accessible facility includes two side platforms sheltered beneath a curved canopy, with entry points from both Broadway and Highland Street. Originally, the Urban Ring Project envisioned a busway along the former Grand Junction Branch, but it did not feature a stop at Box District. Following the cancellation of the Urban Ring in 2010, revised plans incorporating a Box District station emerged in 2013. Construction commenced in 2015, culminating in the launch of SL3 service on April 21, 2018.
Station layout
Positioned northeast of Chelsea’s central area near the northern terminus of Highland Street, Box District station lies along the Silver Line busway that extends northwest to southeast through this location. The Chelsea Greenway runs adjacent to the busway’s southern edge. Flanking the busway are two accessible side platforms connected by an arched concrete-and-glass canopy overhead. Just east of the platforms, a crosswalk allows passengers to traverse the busway safely. Access primarily occurs via the Chelsea Greenway, with nearby street connections approximately westward to Broadway and slightly eastward to Highland Street. Additionally, a sidewalk follows the busway’s northern side southeastward toward Griffin Way.
History
The freight-exclusive Grand Junction Railroad began operations through Everett and Chelsea in 1852, serving docks in East Boston. After a fire destroyed the Chelsea Creek bridge in 1955, much of the Grand Junction track within Chelsea fell into disuse. By 2002, CSX Transportation initiated abandonment of the Grand Junction segment stretching from 2nd Street in Everett through Chelsea to East Boston; however, progress was slowed due to negotiations with Chelsea over acquisition of the right-of-way.
The MBTA intended to repurpose this right-of-way for the Urban Ring Project, a circumferential bus rapid transit line designed to link MBTA’s radial rail lines. Preliminary designs released in 2008 proposed a dedicated busway running through Chelsea along this corridor, including a BRT stop near Eastern Avenue—approximately southeast of where Box District station would later be established. The Urban Ring Project was ultimately discontinued in January 2010 because of excessive costs.
In June 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) acquired the dormant Grand Junction right-of-way from 2nd Street to East Boston for future transit development. Subsequent planning efforts focused on smaller segments, prioritizing the Chelsea–South Boston corridor due to Chelsea’s high population density and limited transit service. A 2011 state analysis examined possible transit enhancements for Chelsea, such as adding a branch of the Silver Line or improving existing route bus service. One Silver Line proposal followed the Urban Ring alignment toward the Chelsea commuter rail station, while another option operated primarily on surface streets.
By March 2013, MBTA explored extending Silver Line service into Chelsea via a new bypass road located in East Boston. Three routing options were evaluated for Chelsea: one aligned along the Grand Junction right-of-way from Eastern Avenue to Chelsea station with stops at , Highland/Box District, Chelsea station, and Mystic Mall; another following the Grand Junction route before shifting onto surface streets near Bellingham Square; and a third primarily utilizing surface roads serving Central Avenue and Mystic Mall. By September that year, MBTA showed preference for the first option despite challenges involving bridge clearances and reconstruction needs at Chelsea station.
On October 30, 2013, MassDOT announced an $82.5 million state investment supporting a modified version of this preferred alternative, aiming for service commencement by late 2015. The Environmental Impact Report was released in March 2014. Approval for the $33.8 million principal construction contract came in September 2014, with work beginning in March 2015. By June 2017, project completion had been postponed to April 2018. Ultimately, Silver Line service on the route debuted on April 21, 2018.