Massachusetts Avenue station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Orange Line rapid transit service |
Massachusetts Avenue station is a rapid transit stop serving the neighborhoods of South End and Symphony in Boston, Massachusetts. Positioned at 380 Massachusetts Avenue, it operates on the MBTA Orange Line. The station commenced service in 1987 as part of the Orange Line’s rerouting into the Southwest Corridor. The Orange Line tracks run alongside the Northeast Corridor, which accommodates Amtrak and several MBTA commuter rail lines.
Station layout
Consistent with all stations on the Orange Line, Massachusetts Avenue station is fully accessible. It includes a single island platform that serves two tracks. The primary entrance building is situated on the southern side of Massachusetts Avenue, connected by a pedestrian tunnel to a secondary access point on the northern side. Additionally, an exit-only stairway at the platform’s southern extremity leads to a footbridge linking Gainsborough Street and Camden Street.
The MBTA has plans to enhance the station by constructing a fare lobby and installing an elevator at the footbridge, alongside replacing the current elevator at the main entrance. In April 2020, a $4.7 million design contract was awarded covering improvements for both Jackson Square and Massachusetts Avenue stations. By 2021, design progress had reached 30%, advancing to 75% completion in 2022, and approaching finalization as of November 2023.
Chickering station
The Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) began operations southwest from Boston in June 1834, initially without any stops between Boston and Roxbury due to undeveloped mudflat areas. The Back Bay and South End districts emerged following land reclamation efforts during the late 1850s and 1860s.
In September 1872, B&P acquired a 6,221 square-foot site at Camden Street. Chickering station opened in 1873 as a one-story brick structure on the south side of the railroad tracks near Camden Street, named after the nearby Chickering & Sons piano factory. It primarily served spectators attending baseball games at South End Grounds.
After leasing B&P in 1891, the Old Colony Railroad purchased land adjacent to West Chester Park (now Massachusetts Avenue) with intentions to replace Chickering station but ultimately repurposed it for a rail yard. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad took over Old Colony in 1893.
Chickering station ceased operations in 1896 due to the construction of nearby Back Bay station and frequent streetcar service along Columbus Avenue. A footbridge connecting Camden Street and Gainsborough Street was constructed in 1904. The station building remained standing into at least the 1910s.
Efforts by local communities and institutions to reopen Chickering station occurred in 1912 and again in 1919; however, these were opposed by the railroad citing previously low passenger numbers and competition with streetcars. Consequently, the state Public Service Commission denied reopening requests in 1919.
Rapid transit
The current Massachusetts Avenue station was established during the Southwest Corridor project (1979–1987), debuting alongside the relocated southern section of the Orange Line on May 4, 1987. The entire Orange Line—including this station—was temporarily closed from August 19 to September 18, 2022, to facilitate maintenance activities.