Newtonville station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1840s |
| Headquarters | Newtonville, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Newtonville station serves as a commuter rail stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line. It is positioned between the Massachusetts Turnpike and Washington Street at Newtonville Square in Newtonville, Massachusetts. Access to the station is provided by stairways located on bridges spanning the Turnpike at Walnut and Harvard Streets. Currently, the station lacks accessibility, although upgrades to address this are planned.
History
Initially known as Hulls Crossing, this station began operating as a flag stop on the Boston and Worcester Railroad during the early 1840s.[1] Its first location was on the south side of the tracks, west of Harvard Street, before being relocated eastward.[2] Joshua Ramsdell was appointed as the inaugural station agent in 1844 and served until 1889, making him one of the longest-tenured agents in New England history.[3]
In the 1870s, a red brick station building was constructed slightly to the east, representing one of the few remaining Boston & Albany (B&A) stations from that period.[4] This station became the first stop outside Boston for B&A’s long-distance trains.[5]
The original structure was torn down during the 1960s amid construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike extension, a project that reduced track capacity from four tracks to two. After Amtrak took over intercity rail operations in 1971, its Bay State service briefly included Newtonville as a stop.[6]
Presently, Newtonville station has one active side platform located next to the southern track adjacent to the Turnpike. When boarding on the northern track is necessary, passengers cross via a wooden walkway. An additional platform alongside the northern track exists but is no longer in use. Both platforms are low-level.
From October 22 to October 25, 2019, Newtonville station was closed temporarily to allow for stairway repairs.[7]
Renovations
None of the Newton stations along the Framingham line—including Newtonville, , and —currently meet accessible standards. Each features a single low-level platform accessed solely by stairs. To fulfill requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the MBTA developed three potential upgrade plans:
- Plan 1: Construct one high-level platform serving a single track; estimated cost is $46 million with a five-year timeline.
- Plan 2: Build high-level side platforms on both tracks; projected cost is $129 million over eight years, enabling phased work and accommodating up to 20 inbound trains daily.
- Plan 3: Install center island platforms at each station; costing $218 million and requiring twelve years to complete, necessitating full station closures during construction but allowing for expanded service capacity.
The MBTA chose Plan 1 and awarded a design contract to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, aiming initially for completion by June 2024. By November 2020, design had reached approximately 30% completion and was expected to conclude by spring 2022. Subsequent revisions introduced a second platform to minimize operational disruptions, which pushed design finalization back to February 2024. Geotechnical investigations were conducted in late 2022.
As of September 2023, design work was paused at about 75% completion due to escalating project costs now estimated at $255 million. A federal funding request submitted in January 2024 was denied. Following this setback, MBTA opted to advance with reconstruction at Newtonville first, offering two design alternatives: dual side platforms near Walnut Street or a single island platform positioned further east; both designs featured shortened platform lengths of , reduced from standard dimensions.
In November 2024, state authorities committed to rebuilding Newtonville station with two side platforms measuring 400 feet each. By February 2025, MBTA planned to release a $42 million construction manager at risk contract anticipated for award in May 2025.
External links
- MBTA – Newtonville Station
- Google Maps Street View of the Harvard Street Entrance
- Google Maps Street View of the Walnut Street Entrance
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namednewton - ↑ "Map of the Town of Newton". April 1848.
- ↑ "Our New England Letter". August 1889.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedb&aarch - ↑ http://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/gb19g132d.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Nationwide Schedules of Intercity Passenger Service. January 16, 1972.
- ↑ "Newtonville Commuter Rail Station temporarily closed". October 22, 2019.