Waban station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 4, 1959 (light rail service) |
| Headquarters | Newton, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Green Line D branch service |
Waban station serves as an at-grade light rail stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Green Line D branch. It is situated just south of Beacon Street within Waban Square, in the Waban neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts. The station is positioned below street level, with platform access available from Wyman Street on the outbound side and via stairs descending from Beacon Street. Accessibility improvements were completed in October 2024, with additional reconstruction scheduled for 2026. Among all D branch stations, Waban records the lowest ridership, averaging 545 boardings daily as of 2011.
History
Originally, Waban featured a train station designed by H.H. Richardson, resembling those still extant at Newton Highlands and Newton Centre. This station was finished in August 1886 as a component of the Boston and Albany Railroad's Highland branch and was one of Richardson's final architectural projects before his passing in April of that year.
In June 1957, the Massachusetts Legislature authorized the Metropolitan Transit Authority (M.T.A.) to acquire the branch line from the financially troubled New York Central Railroad for conversion to light rail service. Conventional rail operations ceased on May 31, 1958. The line underwent rapid transformation to trolley service and resumed operations on July 4, 1959. The original Richardson station was subsequently demolished. In August 1964, the M.T.A. merged into the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
The station is equipped with two MBTA ticket vending machines that allow for CharlieCard reloading and CharlieTicket purchases, along with a fare validation machine—all located within a climate-controlled shelter near the center of the inbound platform. On May 28, 2008, a collision between two westbound Green Line trains occurred between Waban and Woodland stations, resulting in one fatality.
Accessibility
In 2019, the MBTA identified the four remaining non-accessible stops on the D branch as priority "Tier I" projects for accessibility upgrades. A preliminary design contract for these modifications was awarded in February 2021. By June 2022, design work had reached approximately 75% completion and was finalized later that year. The March 2024 plans call for reconstructing platforms while maintaining their current layout.
As of November 2023, construction bidding was anticipated to begin in early 2024 with work commencing midyear. However, in June 2024, the MBTA announced that renovations would proceed in two stages. The initial phase introduced accessible platform sections similar to those at , along with making certain entrances accessible. Weekend construction activities in October 2024 resulted in the stations becoming "generally accessible." Comprehensive renovations are planned to start in 2026 to support the deployment of new Type 10 vehicles.