Brookline Hills station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Headquarters | Brookline, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Light rail transit services |
Brookline Hills station serves as a light rail stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line D branch, located in the Brookline Hills area of Brookline, Massachusetts. The station comprises two side platforms alongside a pair of tracks. It was temporarily closed from April 2021 until January 2022 to undergo renovations connected to the nearby Brookline High School construction project, which improved its accessibility features.
History
In November 1852, the Brookline Branch of the Boston and Worcester Railroad was extended westward to Newton Upper Falls through the Charles River Branch Railroad. The stop originally known as Cypress Street station—later renamed Brookline Hills—was established sometime after 1858.
Following 1886, loop service operated along the Highland branch via what is currently the Framingham/Worcester Line and subsequently the Needham Line. A new station building, designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, was inaugurated in March 1892.
The role of station agent was discontinued in May 1949, although the structure remained available for passenger shelter. The last trains on the line ran on May 31, 1958, prior to its conversion into a light rail system by the M.T.A. Brookline Hills station reopened on July 4, 1959, as part of the D branch service. The original depot from 1892 no longer exists.
Accessibility
During the early 2000s, the MBTA implemented raised platforms at several surface stops to enhance accessibility. Initially, Brookline Hills did not have portable wheelchair lifts or raised platforms; however, portable lifts were introduced by 2003.
Around 2006, wooden mini-high platforms were installed on both sides of the station to facilitate level boarding for older Type 7 LRVs. These improvements at eight Green Line stations were undertaken as part of the resolution of Joanne Daniels-Finegold, et al. v. MBTA.
A comprehensive accessibility renovation took place in conjunction with the expansion of Brookline High School, which included constructing a new building partially extending over the eastern end of the platform. Work began in late 2019, leading to a station closure on April 12, 2021 for completion of final upgrades. The fully accessible station reopened on January 8, 2022.