Talbot Avenue station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 12, 2012 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Area served | Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Talbot Avenue station serves the MBTA Commuter Rail on the Fairmount Line in Boston, Massachusetts. Situated close to Codman Square within the Dorchester area, the station comprises two fully accessible high-level platforms positioned north of Talbot Avenue, with entrances from Park Street and West Park Street. It commenced operations on November 12, 2012, marking the first of four newly constructed stations on the Fairmount Line and representing Boston's first new rail station since the 1988 opening of Yawkey.
Earlier service
The Fairmount Line, initially known as the Dorchester Branch of the Norfolk County Railroad, began passenger service in 1855 and continued until 1944. Former stops named Harvard Street (also called Carlton) and Dorcester (located at Woodrow Avenue) were situated approximately one-quarter mile north and south of where Talbot Avenue station now stands.
In the late 1800s, the grade crossing at Harvard Street was replaced by a road bridge, and Park Street was cut off at the railroad tracks. In 1897, Talbot Avenue was extended from Codman Square to Blue Hill Avenue via an underpass beneath the railway. Around 1899, Lauriat Avenue (present-day Woodrow Avenue) was lowered below track level near Dorchester station.
A converted residential building east of the tracks became the new Harvard Street station on January 1, 1903. The original station structure continued in use for some period afterward, with a pedestrian footbridge added by 1904. By 1906, Dorchester station functioned as an outer terminus for select short-turn trains operating on the line.
Revival and development plans
Temporary shuttle operations along the Fairmount Line recommenced in 1979 during construction on the Southwest Corridor, serving stops at Uphams Corner, Morton Street, and Fairmount. Although initially intended to cease once Southwest Corridor services resumed in 1987, community demand led to continuation of this shuttle service, effectively establishing the Fairmount Line as a permanent MBTA route.
Local advocates introduced the Indigo Line proposal aiming to add stations and increase train frequency to emulate rapid transit characteristics. While this concept was not fully adopted, elements were incorporated into Massachusetts' 2005 legally binding commitment addressing air pollution mitigation from the Big Dig project. The Fairmount Line Improvements plan included constructing four new commuter rail stations: Talbot Avenue, Newmarket, Four Corners/Geneva, and Blue Hill Avenue. These stations were originally scheduled to be completed by late 2011.
Talbot Avenue station development
In August 2010, a $15.9 million contract was awarded for building Talbot Avenue station along with replacing the adjacent overpass. Construction activities began in November 2010; notably, a footbridge linking Park Street and West Park Street was dismantled in December of that year. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place in June 2011. During a weekend in December 2011, MassDOT utilized its Fast 14 bridge replacement method to swap out the Talbot Avenue bridge.
By April 2012, construction progress had reached approximately 80%, advancing to 92% completion by September with only minor finishing touches remaining. The MBTA announced plans for an October 2012 opening; however, Talbot Avenue station officially commenced service on November 12, 2012. In response to neighborhood privacy concerns, six-foot fences were installed on both platforms in April 2013. Formal ribbon-cutting events for Talbot Avenue and two other new stations were held on July 17, 2013.
References
- Notes