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Blue Hill Avenue station

January 01, 1970

Blue Hill Avenue station is a regional rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Fairmount Line located in the Mattapan neighborhood of Dochester, Boston, Massachusetts. The station consists of a center island platform between the line's two tracks, with handicapped-accessible ramps to Blue Hill Avenue and Cummins Highway. Originally intended to open along with Newmarket, Four Corners/Geneva, and Talbot Avenue, it was significantly delayed due to local controversy. Construction began in 2017, and the station opened on February 25, 2019.

Blue Hill Ave
Blue Hill Avenue station in July 2019
General information
LocationBlue Hill Avenue at Woodhaven Street
Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°16′17″N 71°05′45″W / 42.2714°N 71.0959°W / 42.2714; -71.0959
Line(s)Dorchester Branch
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections 28, 29, 30, 31
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone1A
History
Opened1855; February 25, 2019
ClosedMarch 12, 1944[1]
Previous namesMattapan (previous station)
Passengers
2019290 daily (projected)[2]
Services
Former services
Location

History edit

 
Early 20th century postcard of Mattapan station, near the modern station site

Previous service edit

Service on the Fairmount Line (as the Dorchester Branch of the Norfolk County Railroad and later the New York and New England Railroad and New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad) began in 1855. A station called Mattapan was located at Blue Hill Avenue. The Norfolk Street (now Babson Street) grade crossing east of the station was replaced by a road bridge prior to 1874.[3]

Blue Hill Avenue was improved and widened from Walk Hill Street to the Milton border in Mattapan in the late 1890s.[4] As part of that project, the level crossings of Blue Hill Avenue and Oakland Street (now Cummins Highway) were replaced by road bridges in 1901.[5] The station was moved about 100 feet (30 m) east to accommodate the road widening. It was renamed Blue Hill Avenue to distinguish it from the nearby Milton Branch station also called Mattapan.[6][7] Service on the line ended in 1938 as part of the 88 stations case; it resumed in 1940 but again ended in 1944.[8]

Improvement project edit

Temporary shuttle service resumed on the Fairmount Line in 1979 during Southwest Corridor construction, with stops at Uphams Corner, Morton Street, and Fairmount. The MBTA planned to drop the shuttle after service resumed on the Southwest Corridor in 1987, but the service was locally popular and the Fairmount Line became a permanent part of the system.

A plan called the "Indigo Line" was then advanced by community activists, who proposed a route that would add stations and more frequent service, to approach the standards of a conventional rapid transit line. The Indigo Line plan was not adopted, but elements of it were included when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts agreed in 2005 to make improvements on the Fairmount Line a part of its legally binding commitment to mitigate increased air pollution from the Big Dig. Among the selected improvements in the Fairmount Line Improvements project were four new commuter rail stations on the line, including one at Blue Hill Avenue. The stations were originally to be completed by the end of 2011.[9]

Planning edit

 
The planned station site in 2012

Three of the stations - Newmarket, Four Corners/Geneva, and Talbot Avenue - began construction in 2011 and opened in 2012 and 2013. However, Blue Hill Avenue has been the focus of major community opposition over the station site and design, which has resulted in significant delays. Originally, the station was to be located between Blue Hill Avenue and Cummins Highway, with two side platforms like the other stations on the line.[9] However, property owners in a neighborhood association objected to the projected construction activity and operational noise, forcing a total redesign of the station.[10]

The MBTA analyzed several alternative sites for the station. Sites east of Blue Hill Avenue, west of Cummins Highway, and west of River Street would have required property taking, while a location at River Street was on a curve too tight to allow a high-level platform without significant platform gaps.[11] In May 2011, the MBTA decided to keep the station site between Blue Hills Avenue and Cummins Highway, but to change the station design. The new design with a single island platform will keep construction further from abutting homes and lower the cost of the station. However, the change did not satisfy all residents, and the debate continued after announcement of the decision.[11]

Final design of the station, including analyzing 26 nearby homes for noise abatement, was expected to be completed in the middle of 2012. However, local elected officials demanded an independent design review of the project, further delaying the project to at least 2015.[9] The MBTA had planned to advertise the $10 million construction contract in December 2012, but did not do so.[12] In July 2013, the MBTA announced that construction would begin within several months, but again this was a false start.[13] A public meeting held in April 2014 showed mixed local opinions about the stations, with some nearby residents feeling that the stop was imposed on the neighborhood by the MBTA without sufficient public input.[14] At that meeting, the MBTA presented a plan under which construction would begin in May 2015 for a December 2016 opening.[15] A later meeting in September 2014 adjusted the schedule, with construction beginning in September 2015 for a June 2017 opening.[2]

In July 2015, the MBTA began soliciting proposals for artists to design four panels on station signs. One-half percent of the construction cost, approximately $70,000, is budgeted to pay the artists.[16] By February 2016, final design was expected to be completed in the first half of 2016. However, no funding was yet available for the $25.2 million construction cost, placing the station's future in doubt.[17] Plans for 100% design were submitted in March 2016.[18] In June 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board approved a $14.8 billion 5-year Capital Investment Plan. Under the plan, Blue Hill Ave station had guaranteed funding for the $26 million construction cost. Over $3 million was allotted in FY2017, with the remaining $22 million to between FY2018 and FY2021.[19]

Construction edit

 
The station under construction in December 2017

Bidding for the $19.3 million main construction contract opened in December 2016.[20] On January 24, 2017, the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board approved a $16.97 million contract.[21] Construction was to begin in Spring 2017 for a Spring 2019 opening.[22]

Construction of the station began on June 3, 2017. To accommodate construction work at the station site, all weekend Fairmount Line trains in both directions were cut back to Morton Street, with bus shuttles between Morton Street, Fairmount, and Readville, and late-night outbound Fairmount Line service on weekdays was completely replaced with buses.[23][24] The station opened on February 25, 2019.[25] A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on March 6.[26] Blue Hill Avenue originally had bike racks, however they were removed the day before opening.[27][28] Travel time from Blue Hill Avenue to downtown (South Station) is scheduled for 23 minutes - a substantial reduction from the 45-60 minutes common when using the Red Line or buses.[29][30]

References edit

  1. ^ Humphrey, Thomas J.; Clark, Norton D. (1986). Boston's Commuter Rail: Second Section. Boston Street Railway Association. p. 12. ISBN 9780938315025.
  2. ^ a b (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 15, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "Plate Q". Atlas of the county of Suffolk, Massachusetts : vol. 3rd including Boston and Dorchester : from actual surveys and official records. G.M. Hopkins & Co. 1874. pp. 70–71.
  4. ^ "Real Estate". Boston Globe. June 24, 1894. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tabor Awarded $21,240". Boston Globe. March 26, 1904. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Bromley, George Washington; Bromley, Walter Scott (1910). "Part of Ward 24, City of Boston" (Map). Atlas of the city of Boston: Dorchester. 1:2,400. Plate 39.
  7. ^ "Widening Blue Hill Avenue". Boston Evening Transcript. May 14, 1901. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Karr, Ronald Dale (2017). The Rail Lines of Southern New England (2 ed.). Branch Line Press. pp. 360–364. ISBN 9780942147124.
  9. ^ a b c "State Implementation Plan – Transit Commitments Monthly Status Report" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. September 20, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  10. ^ Leskovic, Nate (February 5, 2012). "Neighbors balk at siting for Blue Hill Station". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Bayles, Cara (June 17, 2011). "Struggle over location for Mattapan's Fairmount Line station continues". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  12. ^ . Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  13. ^ "Patrick Administration Opens Three New Commuter Rail Stations". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  14. ^ "Everything Was Quiet & Business-like at Mattapan Transpo Meeting, And Then ..." Here and Sphere. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  15. ^ Dumcius, Gintautas (April 24, 2014). . Dorchester Reporter. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  16. ^ (PDF) (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. July 10, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  17. ^ Nelson, Caleb (February 24, 2016). "Commuter rail stop in Mattapan no sure thing as T balks on funding". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  18. ^ "State Implementation Plan – Transit Commitments: 2016 Status Report" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. June 30, 2016. p. 4.
  19. ^ Smith, Jennifer (July 6, 2016). "State budget plan locks in trolley, Fairmount spending". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  20. ^ (PDF). MBTA Contract No. H74CN09, FAIRMOUNT CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, BLUE HILL AVENUE COMMUTER RAIL STATION. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 9, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  21. ^ "FMCB approves Blue Hill Avenue Station on the Fairmount Line" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 24, 2017.
  22. ^ Garrett, Brianne (October 13, 2016). "Mattapan residents get T station update; officials get positive nods, hear concerns". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  23. ^ . Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017.
  24. ^ (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 3, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  25. ^ "Blue Hill Avenue Station Opens to Fairmount Line Customers on February 25" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  26. ^ "Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, MBTA Celebrate Blue Hill Avenue Station Opening" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. March 6, 2019.
  27. ^ "Tweet from @MBTA". Twitter. February 25, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019. Good Morning. The station did have these vertical bike racks originally. We had to temporarily remove them, but will replace the bike racks in the near future. Stay tuned!
  28. ^ Sheehan, Daniel (February 26, 2019). "All Aboard! Blue Hill Ave. station open for commuter rail passengers". Dorchester Reporter.
  29. ^ Dungca, Nicole (October 16, 2014). "MBTA to purchase new trains, open new Blue Hill station". Boston Globe.
  30. ^ Lavery, Trea (March 14, 2019). "MBTA opens Mattapan commuter rail station". Bay State Banner.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blue Hill Avenue station.
  • MBTA - Blue Hill Avenue
  • MBTA - Blue Hill Avenue station project page

January 01, 1970
blue, hill, avenue, station, regional, rail, station, mbta, commuter, rail, fairmount, line, located, mattapan, neighborhood, dochester, boston, massachusetts, station, consists, center, island, platform, between, line, tracks, with, handicapped, accessible, r. Blue Hill Avenue station is a regional rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Fairmount Line located in the Mattapan neighborhood of Dochester Boston Massachusetts The station consists of a center island platform between the line s two tracks with handicapped accessible ramps to Blue Hill Avenue and Cummins Highway Originally intended to open along with Newmarket Four Corners Geneva and Talbot Avenue it was significantly delayed due to local controversy Construction began in 2017 and the station opened on February 25 2019 Blue Hill AveBlue Hill Avenue station in July 2019General informationLocationBlue Hill Avenue at Woodhaven StreetDorchester Boston MassachusettsCoordinates42 16 17 N 71 05 45 W 42 2714 N 71 0959 W 42 2714 71 0959Line s Dorchester BranchPlatforms1 island platformTracks2Connections28 29 30 31ConstructionAccessibleYesOther informationFare zone1AHistoryOpened1855 February 25 2019ClosedMarch 12 1944 1 Previous namesMattapan previous station Passengers2019290 daily projected 2 ServicesPreceding station MBTA Following station Fairmounttoward Readville Fairmount Line Morton Streettoward South Station Fairmounttoward Forge Park 495 or Foxboro Franklin Foxboro LineFormer servicesPreceding station New York New Haven and Hartford Railroad Following station River Streettoward Readville Boston Readville via Midland Branch Forest Avenuetoward BostonLocation Contents 1 History 1 1 Previous service 1 2 Improvement project 1 3 Planning 1 4 Construction 2 References 3 External linksHistory edit nbsp Early 20th century postcard of Mattapan station near the modern station site Previous service edit Service on the Fairmount Line as the Dorchester Branch of the Norfolk County Railroad and later the New York and New England Railroad and New York New Haven and Hartford Railroad began in 1855 A station called Mattapan was located at Blue Hill Avenue The Norfolk Street now Babson Street grade crossing east of the station was replaced by a road bridge prior to 1874 3 Blue Hill Avenue was improved and widened from Walk Hill Street to the Milton border in Mattapan in the late 1890s 4 As part of that project the level crossings of Blue Hill Avenue and Oakland Street now Cummins Highway were replaced by road bridges in 1901 5 The station was moved about 100 feet 30 m east to accommodate the road widening It was renamed Blue Hill Avenue to distinguish it from the nearby Milton Branch station also called Mattapan 6 7 Service on the line ended in 1938 as part of the 88 stations case it resumed in 1940 but again ended in 1944 8 Improvement project edit Temporary shuttle service resumed on the Fairmount Line in 1979 during Southwest Corridor construction with stops at Uphams Corner Morton Street and Fairmount The MBTA planned to drop the shuttle after service resumed on the Southwest Corridor in 1987 but the service was locally popular and the Fairmount Line became a permanent part of the system A plan called the Indigo Line was then advanced by community activists who proposed a route that would add stations and more frequent service to approach the standards of a conventional rapid transit line The Indigo Line plan was not adopted but elements of it were included when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts agreed in 2005 to make improvements on the Fairmount Line a part of its legally binding commitment to mitigate increased air pollution from the Big Dig Among the selected improvements in the Fairmount Line Improvements project were four new commuter rail stations on the line including one at Blue Hill Avenue The stations were originally to be completed by the end of 2011 9 Planning edit nbsp The planned station site in 2012 Three of the stations Newmarket Four Corners Geneva and Talbot Avenue began construction in 2011 and opened in 2012 and 2013 However Blue Hill Avenue has been the focus of major community opposition over the station site and design which has resulted in significant delays Originally the station was to be located between Blue Hill Avenue and Cummins Highway with two side platforms like the other stations on the line 9 However property owners in a neighborhood association objected to the projected construction activity and operational noise forcing a total redesign of the station 10 The MBTA analyzed several alternative sites for the station Sites east of Blue Hill Avenue west of Cummins Highway and west of River Street would have required property taking while a location at River Street was on a curve too tight to allow a high level platform without significant platform gaps 11 In May 2011 the MBTA decided to keep the station site between Blue Hills Avenue and Cummins Highway but to change the station design The new design with a single island platform will keep construction further from abutting homes and lower the cost of the station However the change did not satisfy all residents and the debate continued after announcement of the decision 11 Final design of the station including analyzing 26 nearby homes for noise abatement was expected to be completed in the middle of 2012 However local elected officials demanded an independent design review of the project further delaying the project to at least 2015 9 The MBTA had planned to advertise the 10 million construction contract in December 2012 but did not do so 12 In July 2013 the MBTA announced that construction would begin within several months but again this was a false start 13 A public meeting held in April 2014 showed mixed local opinions about the stations with some nearby residents feeling that the stop was imposed on the neighborhood by the MBTA without sufficient public input 14 At that meeting the MBTA presented a plan under which construction would begin in May 2015 for a December 2016 opening 15 A later meeting in September 2014 adjusted the schedule with construction beginning in September 2015 for a June 2017 opening 2 In July 2015 the MBTA began soliciting proposals for artists to design four panels on station signs One half percent of the construction cost approximately 70 000 is budgeted to pay the artists 16 By February 2016 final design was expected to be completed in the first half of 2016 However no funding was yet available for the 25 2 million construction cost placing the station s future in doubt 17 Plans for 100 design were submitted in March 2016 18 In June 2016 the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board approved a 14 8 billion 5 year Capital Investment Plan Under the plan Blue Hill Ave station had guaranteed funding for the 26 million construction cost Over 3 million was allotted in FY2017 with the remaining 22 million to between FY2018 and FY2021 19 Construction edit nbsp The station under construction in December 2017 Bidding for the 19 3 million main construction contract opened in December 2016 20 On January 24 2017 the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board approved a 16 97 million contract 21 Construction was to begin in Spring 2017 for a Spring 2019 opening 22 Construction of the station began on June 3 2017 To accommodate construction work at the station site all weekend Fairmount Line trains in both directions were cut back to Morton Street with bus shuttles between Morton Street Fairmount and Readville and late night outbound Fairmount Line service on weekdays was completely replaced with buses 23 24 The station opened on February 25 2019 25 A formal ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 6 26 Blue Hill Avenue originally had bike racks however they were removed the day before opening 27 28 Travel time from Blue Hill Avenue to downtown South Station is scheduled for 23 minutes a substantial reduction from the 45 60 minutes common when using the Red Line or buses 29 30 References edit Humphrey Thomas J Clark Norton D 1986 Boston s Commuter Rail Second Section Boston Street Railway Association p 12 ISBN 9780938315025 a b Blue Hill Ave Station Design Meeting PDF Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority September 15 2014 Archived from the original PDF on October 2 2014 Retrieved October 2 2014 Plate Q Atlas of the county of Suffolk Massachusetts vol 3rd including Boston and Dorchester from actual surveys and official records G M Hopkins amp Co 1874 pp 70 71 Real Estate Boston Globe June 24 1894 p 10 via Newspapers com Tabor Awarded 21 240 Boston Globe March 26 1904 p 5 via Newspapers com Bromley George Washington Bromley Walter Scott 1910 Part of Ward 24 City of Boston Map Atlas of the city of Boston Dorchester 1 2 400 Plate 39 Widening Blue Hill Avenue Boston Evening Transcript May 14 1901 p 7 via Newspapers com Karr Ronald Dale 2017 The Rail Lines of Southern New England 2 ed Branch Line Press pp 360 364 ISBN 9780942147124 a b c State Implementation Plan Transit Commitments Monthly Status Report PDF Massachusetts Department of Transportation September 20 2012 Retrieved October 4 2012 Leskovic Nate February 5 2012 Neighbors balk at siting for Blue Hill Station Dorchester Reporter Retrieved June 21 2012 a b Bayles Cara June 17 2011 Struggle over location for Mattapan s Fairmount Line station continues Boston Globe Retrieved June 21 2012 Future Construction Contract Bid Solicitations Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Archived from the original on October 14 2012 Retrieved July 1 2013 Patrick Administration Opens Three New Commuter Rail Stations Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority July 17 2013 Retrieved July 17 2013 Everything Was Quiet amp Business like at Mattapan Transpo Meeting And Then Here and Sphere April 11 2014 Retrieved April 13 2014 Dumcius Gintautas April 24 2014 Abutters MBTA remain at odds over rail station Dorchester Reporter Archived from the original on June 1 2014 Retrieved June 1 2014 BLUE HILL AVENUE STATION CALL FOR ARTISTS PDF Press release Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority July 10 2015 Archived from the original PDF on July 12 2015 Retrieved July 11 2015 Nelson Caleb February 24 2016 Commuter rail stop in Mattapan no sure thing as T balks on funding Dorchester Reporter Retrieved February 24 2016 State Implementation Plan Transit Commitments 2016 Status Report PDF Massachusetts Department of Transportation June 30 2016 p 4 Smith Jennifer July 6 2016 State budget plan locks in trolley Fairmount spending Dorchester Reporter Retrieved July 13 2016 NOTICE TO BIDDERS PDF MBTA Contract No H74CN09 FAIRMOUNT CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BLUE HILL AVENUE COMMUTER RAIL STATION Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority December 9 2016 Archived from the original PDF on December 24 2016 Retrieved December 23 2016 FMCB approves Blue Hill Avenue Station on the Fairmount Line Press release Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority January 24 2017 Garrett Brianne October 13 2016 Mattapan residents get T station update officials get positive nods hear concerns Dorchester Reporter Retrieved October 14 2016 Current Service Alerts Advisories Delays and Outages Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority August 5 2017 Archived from the original on August 5 2017 FAIRMOUNT LINE effective June 3 2017 PDF Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority June 3 2017 Archived from the original PDF on August 5 2017 Retrieved November 8 2018 Blue Hill Avenue Station Opens to Fairmount Line Customers on February 25 Press release Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority February 24 2019 Retrieved February 25 2019 Governor Baker Lt Governor Polito MBTA Celebrate Blue Hill Avenue Station Opening Press release Massachusetts Department of Transportation March 6 2019 Tweet from MBTA Twitter February 25 2019 Retrieved March 14 2019 Good Morning The station did have these vertical bike racks originally We had to temporarily remove them but will replace the bike racks in the near future Stay tuned Sheehan Daniel February 26 2019 All Aboard Blue Hill Ave station open for commuter rail passengers Dorchester Reporter Dungca Nicole October 16 2014 MBTA to purchase new trains open new Blue Hill station Boston Globe Lavery Trea March 14 2019 MBTA opens Mattapan commuter rail station Bay State Banner External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blue Hill Avenue station MBTA Blue Hill Avenue MBTA Blue Hill Avenue station project page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue Hill Avenue station amp oldid 1224856236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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