Pleasant Street station (MBTA)
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 15, 2021 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | MBTA Green Line B branch service |
| Website | www |
Babcock Street station is a light rail stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line B branch. It is situated within the median of Commonwealth Avenue in the western portion of the Boston University campus. The station, which is accessible, includes two side platforms serving the dual tracks of the line, with entrances at both Babcock Street and Pleasant Street.
Streetcar operations along Commonwealth Avenue commenced in 1896 under the management of the West End Street Railway. After passing through various operators, this service became known as the Green Line B branch during the 1960s. Originally, stops were located at Alcorn Street but were shifted eastward to Babcock Street around 1975, near Pleasant Street. Plans to merge these stops into one accessible station began in 2014. Construction for Babcock Street station and the adjacent Amory Street station started in February 2021, with both stations opening on November 15, 2021.
Station layout
Positioned in the median of Commonwealth Avenue between Harry Agganis Way and Babcock Street, Babcock Street station lies next to Boston University's West Campus.[1] It features two accessible side platforms, each approximately -long, which serve the two tracks of the B branch. The platforms are centrally located within the block and connected via walkways to both bordering streets. Each platform is equipped with a canopy about -long, distinguished by wavy panels in vibrant colors.[2][1]
Streetcar service
The West End Street Railway introduced streetcar service along Commonwealth Avenue's median in the mid-1890s, launching operations between Governors Square and on May 18, 1896. That same year, the line was extended to Nonantum Square, and on November 8, 1897, it began utilizing the Tremont Street subway. The Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) leased the West End Street Railway starting October 1, 1897, further expanding the network. New track segments connecting Chestnut Hill Avenue to Brighton Avenue opened on May 26, 1900, allowing direct travel from Lake Street into downtown Boston via Commonwealth Avenue. In 1912, the Nonantum Square line was extended to reach Watertown Yard, establishing a route pattern that remained largely unchanged for many years.
Following the inauguration of Braves Field on August 18, 1915, a loop track with a prepayment area was constructed between Gaffney and Babcock Streets to accommodate ballpark attendees directly. This loop also facilitated train turnarounds for Fenway Park events and rush-hour short-turn services; after November 1945, these short-turn trips operated during midday hours and on Saturdays. The loop experienced intense usage during major events—for instance, during the 1948 World Series, streetcars ran every 45 seconds between Park Street and Braves Field. After Boston University purchased Braves Field in 1953, this loop was discontinued on January 15, 1962. Although a transfer station near Braves Field was proposed in 1921 to link rapid transit with , it was eventually moved elsewhere and never constructed.
In 1947, BERy transitioned into the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which was later replaced by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in 1964. The MBTA rebranded existing streetcar lines as part of the Green Line in 1965; by 1967, the Watertown route became known as the Green Line A branch, while Lake Street (Boston College) was designated as the B branch. Service along the A branch ceased on June 21, 1969, leaving only the B branch operating along Commonwealth Avenue. By 1972, minor-platform stops were present at Alcorn Street and Pleasant Street, with Alcorn Street being relocated eastward to Babcock Street around 1975.
Halt to consolidation
In 2014, the MBTA proposed merging four non-accessible stops near Boston University's West Campus—, , Pleasant Street, and Babcock Street—into two fully accessible stations as part of the Commonwealth Avenue upgrade project. The Pleasant Street and Babcock Street stops were combined into a single station located between the original two sites. However, progress was postponed until other roadway projects were completed.
On March 23, 2020, the MBTA awarded a $17.8 million contract for construction. The building phase extended from February 2021 through early 2022, with bus substitutions replacing rail service during nights and weekends for much of 2021. In February 2021, the MBTA revealed that the new consolidated station would carry the name Babcock Street. To facilitate construction, Pleasant Street station permanently ceased operations on February 26, 2021. Bus service replaced trains between Washington Street and Kenmore from April 17 to May 9 and again from May 17 to June 13 to allow for platform and canopy installations. On July 30, 2021, an accident near the station under construction resulted in injuries to 25 passengers.
The original Babcock Street stop was closed on November 12, 2021. Following a short closure period, the newly constructed Babcock Street station opened on November 15, after which the old station was dismantled.