McGovern Transportation Center
| Company type | Transit center and commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Lawrence, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Lawrence, Massachusetts and surrounding areas |
| Products | MBTA Commuter Rail (Haverhill Line), Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority bus routes |
The Senator Patricia McGovern Transportation Center, commonly referred to as the McGovern Transportation Center or Lawrence station, functions as a key transit facility in Lawrence, Massachusetts. It accommodates the MBTA Commuter Rail Haverhill Line along with bus routes operated by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority. Established in 2005, the station is located within Lawrence's Gateway District.
Initial Stations
Following the commencement of operations by the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1846, Lawrence's railway alignment was shifted in 1848 to its present course south of the Merrimack River. That same year, the B&M set a speed milestone when The Antelope train covered the 26-mile distance from Boston to Lawrence at 60 mph.
The inaugural station, known as South Lawrence, was a wooden edifice constructed near Salem Street in 1848. It underwent enlargement in 1850 and was later replaced by a brick depot built between Salem and Andover Streets in 1872.
In 1849, the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad launched a new route traversing central Lawrence, featuring a North Lawrence station situated at Essex Street. The original wooden structure was superseded by a permanent building in 1851 and subsequently upgraded to a Victorian Gothic brick design in 1879. Furthermore, the Boston and Lowell Railroad expanded service north of the Merrimack River with a depot on Canal Street established in 1880; this station remained operational until passenger services on the Lawrence & Lowell line ceased in 1926.
Station Consolidation
The Boston & Maine combined the South and North Lawrence stations into one facility named Lawrence in 1931, positioned off Parker Street. The brick and marble structure at 65 Merrimack Street still exists today as part of a commercial strip mall. Passenger service along the Manchester and Lawrence line concluded in 1953.
Created in 1964 to support suburban commuter rail, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) originally did not include Lawrence within its service district. On January 4, 1965, B&M drastically reduced interstate train services, maintaining only a Boston–Dover round trip north of Haverhill. By January 18, most intrastate routes outside MBTA coverage were discontinued except for the Dover round trip serving Lawrence. This was further cut back to Haverhill on June 30, 1967, with local municipalities providing subsidies for continued operation.
Complete cessation of service occurred on June 30, 1976, following withdrawal of state funding. Later that year, the MBTA purchased most of B&M’s commuter rail assets, including the Western Route. Restoration planning for Haverhill line service began in 1978 with financial collaboration from the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority. Service recommenced on December 17, 1979, reinstating stops at Lawrence. Accessibility improvements included installation of a mini-high platform around 1992.
McGovern Transportation Center
The Senator Patricia McGovern Transportation Center commenced operations on December 6, 2005, providing a new train station located approximately one-quarter mile east of the previous site; however, the former platform remains preserved.
This station features one full-length high-level platform positioned on the north side of the tracks. Initially, a temporary south-side platform was implemented but later removed due to local concerns over pedestrian access across active rail lines to reach the parking garage. Around 2010, this secondary platform was demolished when Pan Am introduced an additional freight track that enabled dedicated freight operations alongside sufficient capacity for passenger trains on a single track. A comparable temporary platform arrangement was employed during track maintenance activities in 2014.
On September 1, 2024, MeVa shifted its Lawrence operational center to the McGovern Transportation Center from its former location at Buckley Transportation Center downtown, thereby improving regional transit integration.[1][2]