Mattapan station
| Company type | MBTA light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | December 1, 1847 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Mattapan, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Products | Light rail transit services |
Mattapan station is a MBTA light rail facility situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It acts as the southern endpoint of the Mattapan Line, which is a branch of the Red Line, and serves as an important hub for MBTA bus transfers, with several routes terminating at this location. Positioned within Mattapan Square in the Mattapan district, the station includes a balloon loop that enables streetcars to turn around and head back toward Ashmont station. The station is equipped with full accessibility, featuring mini-high platforms.
Railroad station
The Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad commenced operations from Neponset to the Upper Mills area of Dorchester (later known as Mattapan) on December 1, 1847, and was incorporated into the Old Colony Railroad system by the next year.[1] A wooden depot was positioned on the east side of Brush Hill Turnpike (present-day Blue Hill Avenue) at Mattapan Square, accompanied by an engine shed and a turntable.[2] Originally called Dorchester, it was renamed Milton Upper Mills around 1852 before adopting the name Mattapan by 1858.[3] Later in the 19th century, a freight building for the Tileston and Hollingsworth Company was constructed just south of the station.[4]
In 1901, due to the widening of Blue Hill Avenue, a new station was constructed approximately further away from the roadway.[5] Starting August 1901, a temporary facility operated out of a converted passenger car.[6] The replacement stone building measured and included a waiting room along with an enclosed island platform for travelers.[5] This new station officially opened on July 4, 1902.[6]
Streetcar station
Passenger train service on the Milton Branch ceased on August 24, 1929, to allow conversion to rapid transit. The initial segment of the Mattapan Line—a "high-speed" streetcar route—began operation between and two days later; service extended to Mattapan on December 21, 1929.[7] A streetcar transfer facility and yard replaced the former rail yard, while the original station structure was adapted for commercial use.[2] Parking fees at Mattapan were introduced starting November 2, 1953.[8]
On May 5, 2006, the MBTA awarded a contract valued at $6.2 million to reconstruct the aging 1929 station.[9] The line closed on June 24 for Ashmont viaduct work and modernization efforts across all stations except Valley Road. The outdated shelter and platforms were replaced with contemporary platforms featuring canopies; additionally, a new building housing MBTA police and bus operations with a community space was constructed.[10] Service resumed on December 22, 2007.[11]
In 2014, $500,000 was allocated for further enhancements including improved heated shelters, pedestrian upgrades, better signage, and bicycle parking facilities.[12]
Future plans by the MBTA involve upgrading the line to modern light rail vehicles with raised platforms enabling level boarding; Mattapan station will be outfitted with a single island platform. An expanded maintenance facility is also planned adjacent to the southern busway.[13]
Transit-oriented development
During the initial phase of modernization, the MBTA proposed a mixed-use transit-oriented development (TOD) project on a seldom-utilized parking area at the station. Although a second request for proposals (RFP) was released in 2012, the initiative failed to progress. In 2014, a local charter school expressed interest in developing the site, but due to community resistance against its $1.5 million bid, the MBTA issued a third RFP in early 2015, which was formally released in November of that year.
In July 2016, the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board chose POAH/Nuestra as the successful applicant among two contenders. Under a 99-year lease agreement, POAH/Nuestra committed to paying $4.89 million over two decades and planned to construct 135 rental residences alongside ground-floor retail space. The design included reserving 50 parking spots specifically for MBTA commuters and earned city approval in 2018. By November 2020, financing was finalized, enabling construction to commence soon after with an anticipated completion date set for 2022.
The $57 million project, titled "The Loop at Mattapan Station," officially opened its doors in April 2023.
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