Quincy Adams station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | September 10, 1983 |
| Headquarters | Quincy, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Rapid transit services (MBTA Red Line) |
Quincy Adams station functions as a rapid transit stop within Quincy, Massachusetts, serving the Braintree Branch of the MBTA's Red Line. Positioned on Burgin Parkway close to the Braintree Split, it includes an extensive park and ride facility accommodating 2,538 vehicles, constructed above the rail tracks and platforms. The station is fully compliant with accessibility standards.
Station layout
The station features a single island platform that caters to two north-south running Red Line tracks. Adjacent to the Red Line, on its western side, lies a track utilized by the MBTA Commuter Rail for the Fall River/New Bedford, Kingston, and Greenbush Lines. The parking structure is mainly situated to the west of the rail lines, with its upper floors extending over the Red Line platform area. Various MBTA bus routes provide additional transit connections at this location.
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad commenced operations through Quincy in November 1845. By 1848, South Quincy existed as a flag stop, and by 1857 a station was established near Water Street. The name was changed to Quincy Adams in honor of President John Quincy Adams by late 1866, becoming official in December 1867. In 1869, a stone station building identical to Avon’s was constructed on the west side of the tracks, just south of Water Street. The Old Colony Railroad used left-hand running until 1895, which influenced the station building’s placement to serve inbound trains heading toward Boston.
In 1936, a state-funded initiative costing $380,000 eliminated the Water Street grade crossing by replacing it with a road bridge financed through the Works Progress Administration. Additional enhancements including platform canopies were installed in 1937.
Plans from 1926 and recommendations from the 1945–47 Coolidge Commission proposed extending rapid transit service to Braintree via the Old Colony right-of-way. The original Quincy Adams station ceased operations along with the Old Colony system on June 30, 1959, and was subsequently demolished.
Red Line opening
In July 1976, the MBTA obtained a $21 million federal grant supplemented by a $5 million local contribution to build South Quincy station. Renamed Quincy Adams, it opened on September 10, 1983, as an infill station on the Braintree Branch. Initially scheduled to launch alongside Braintree station in 1980, construction delays postponed its opening by three years. Quincy Adams has been accessible since at least 1989 and its construction cost totaled $32 million.
Until 2007, passengers exiting at Quincy Adams and Braintree were subject to a double entry fare combined with a single exit fare, functioning as a distance-based pricing mechanism. This additional charge was discontinued on January 1, 2007. Comparable fare structures had been applied to inner stations on the Braintree Branch until 1980.
Renovations
Prior to 2012, access to the parking garage was exclusively available via ramps from I-93 and Route 3, while Burgin Parkway only provided entry to a surface lot with 160 spaces. Following the closure of the Quincy Center garage due to structural deficiencies, the lower level of Quincy Adams garage—with 130 spaces—was opened for Burgin Parkway access in July 2012.
Although engineered for a half-century of use, the $28 million Quincy Adams garage experienced concrete deterioration caused by water infiltration and structural flaws. Repairs were undertaken during the mid-1990s. In 2015, the MBTA launched a $4.4 million initiative targeting critical structural issues affecting both Quincy Adams and Braintree garages; however, comprehensive repair or replacement was still necessary. A major renovation project valued at $35 million took place from May 2018 through December 2021; during this period, the garage was closed between October 2020 and April 2021 before partially reopening.
Separately, beginning in August 2018, a $10.5 million contract was initiated to replace two garage elevators along with the platform elevator while adding an additional redundant elevator at the platform level. One garage elevator was completed by late 2020; the new platform elevator followed in 2021. The second garage elevator was finished in early 2022, and by October 2023, the original platform elevator had been replaced.
Independence Avenue entrance
Prior to December 2018, the station's pedestrian access was exclusively through the park and ride facility located off Burgin Parkway. Although a pedestrian entry on the east side connecting to Independence Avenue was established in 1981, it was shut down in the late 1980s after commuters began parking on adjacent streets to avoid paying garage fees. This closure eliminated direct station access for local residents, leading some individuals to scale the gate. The entrance became a subject of dispute between Quincy and Braintree authorities; in 2014, they suggested installing a locking mechanism permitting entry solely for nearby residents via Independence Avenue.
Despite enhancements to the garage that included pathway renovations from Independence Avenue, the MBTA classified reopening this entrance as a municipal matter and did not incorporate it into their project scope. In April 2018, city officials declared intentions to reactivate the gate by September, with the entrance officially reopening on December 3, 2018.
Bus service
The station features a busway designated for MBTA bus routes, accessible from Centre Street and exiting onto Burgin Parkway; however, its usage has been limited. Presently, only route regularly operates through this busway, although other routes have utilized it temporarily.
- In November 1985, the MBTA piloted express bus service connecting and Quincy Adams to Logan International Airport. The Quincy Adams segment demonstrated strong demand, resulting in year-round service funded by Massport commencing on September 29, 1986, marking the first route of the Logan Express system. The terminal was relocated from Quincy Adams to a lot near Braintree in 1990.
- During a Monet exhibition from February to April 1990, two special MBTA routes provided service from Quincy Adams and to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
- Beginning in August 1999, Interstate Coach operated reverse commute trips from Boston to a business park in Canton, with stops including and Quincy Adams. After Bloom Bus Lines acquired Interstate in 2003, this service was discontinued in July 2004.
- Starting with the 1994 season, the MBTA subsidized private carrier routes from , Alewife, Riverside, and Quincy Adams to Foxboro Stadium for home games of the New England Patriots. Services from Alewife, Riverside, and Quincy Adams ceased after the conclusion of the 2000 season.
External links
- MBTA – Quincy Adams
- MBTA – South Shore Garages
- Google Maps Street View: Burgin Parkway entrance, Centre Street entrance, Independence Avenue entrance