Four Corners/Geneva station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 1, 2013 |
| Headquarters | Dorchester, Boston , United States |
Area served | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Four Corners/Geneva station serves as a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail's Fairmount Line, situated within the Mount Bowdoin neighborhood of Dorchester, Massachusetts. As part of the Fairmount Line Improvement Project, it offers two full-length, elevated platforms connected by walkways leading to Washington Street and Geneva Avenue. The station commenced operations on July 1, 2013, concurrently with Newmarket, thereby improving transit options and accessibility in the local community.
Mt. Bowdoin
The Fairmount Line's rail service, initially known as the Dorchester Branch of the Norfolk County Railroad and subsequently managed by the New York and New England Railroad and later the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, started in 1855 and ended in 1944. The Mt. Bowdoin station was positioned near the Washington Street overpass. Between 1895 and 1916, the area surrounding the station experienced considerable growth. Originally a single-story inbound station, it was later altered with a second story below street level when tracks were lowered to eliminate grade crossings. On the outbound side, a modest shelter existed; remnants of wooden stairs to this platform are still visible today.
Restoration and planning
In 1979, temporary shuttle services resumed along the Fairmount Line during construction on the Southwest Corridor, stopping at Uphams Corner, Morton Street, and Fairmount stations. Though initially intended to cease in 1987 after Southwest Corridor service resumed, sustained local demand ensured that the Fairmount Line remained a permanent MBTA route. Community advocates introduced the Indigo Line proposal, which aimed to add additional stations and increase train frequency to provide rapid transit-style service. While this plan was never fully adopted, parts of it influenced the 2005 Massachusetts commitment to improve the Fairmount Line as mitigation for air pollution caused by the Big Dig project. This initiative included four new commuter rail stations, among them one at Geneva Avenue, originally planned for completion by 2011.
Construction
Following extensive planning efforts, a contract valued at $19.6 million was put out for bidding on September 4, 2009; the lowest bid received was $17.7 million. Authorization to proceed was granted on January 28, 2010, with a groundbreaking event held on July 16, 2010.
By late 2011, construction on the inbound platform and its ramp was nearly finished; by April 2012, approximately three-quarters of the station's construction was complete with major structural elements established. Delays occurred due to redesigning the outbound ramp after unforeseen rock formations were discovered that had not been detected during initial surveys.
On September 13, 2012, MBTA announced a target opening date in April 2013. By mid-October that year, construction progress reached 82%, but the opening was postponed until July 1, 2013 to coincide with Newmarket station’s debut for coordinated marketing purposes. The official ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Four Corners/Geneva along with two additional stations took place on July 17, 2013.