Fields Corner station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Rapid transit, bus interchange |
Fields Corner station is a rapid transit facility on the Ashmont branch of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Red Line, situated within the Fields Corner neighborhood of Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. It functions as a key interchange hub for various MBTA bus lines. Originally inaugurated in 1927, the station underwent a comprehensive reconstruction from 2004 through 2008 to improve accessibility features.
History
Fields Corner, along with , commenced operations on November 5, 1927, with Fields Corner serving as the southern endpoint until and stations opened in 1928. The elevated structure was designed to streamline transfers between rapid transit services and surface-level streetcars and buses, incorporating two island platforms where rapid transit tracks ran centrally and streetcar tracks flanked the sides. Additionally, a street-level busway was included in the initial configuration.
Due to safety issues, the pedestrian tunnel accessed from Charles Street was closed in January 1970. In the mid-1980s, platforms were lengthened to support six-car trains that began service in 1988.
On May 3, 2001, the MBTA awarded a $4.3 million contract for design work on upgrades at Ashmont, Shawmut, and Fields Corner stations. By January 2003, full design completion was achieved for Shawmut and Fields Corner, while Ashmont faced delays. The MBTA initiated the $67 million Red Line Rehabilitation Project in October 2003, focusing on improvements at Shawmut, Fields Corner, and Savin Hill stations.
Work started in March 2004 with a redesign that introduced a new fare lobby beneath the tracks. Due to budget reductions, planned public art installations under the Arts on the Line initiative were cancelled; only interpretive panels reflecting historical themes were installed. The updated entrance lobby opened on December 22, 2006, making Fields Corner the last MBTA station to adopt the automated CharlieCard fare collection system. Renovations were completed on September 23, 2008.
In October 2023, bus substitutions temporarily replaced train service on the Ashmont Branch from October 14 to October 29 to accommodate essential track maintenance.