Central station (MBTA)

Central (also called Central Square station) is an MBTA transit station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It serves the rapid transit Red Line and has a street-level terminal for the MBTA bus system. It is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue with Western Avenue, Prospect Street, and Magazine Street at Central Square.

Not to be confused with Central Avenue station (MBTA).
Central
The inbound platform at Central in 2013
LocationMassachusetts Avenue at Prospect Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°21′54″N 71°06′12″W
Line(s)Cambridge Tunnel
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Connections MBTA bus: 1, 47, 64, 70, 83, 91
Construction
Bicycle facilities36 spaces
Disabled accessYes
History
OpenedMarch 23, 1912
Rebuilt1988
Passengers
FY201915,405 (weekday average boardings)[1]
Services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Harvard
toward Alewife
 Red Line Kendall/MIT
toward Ashmont or Braintree

The station is fully accessible, with each of the two side platforms served by an elevator.

History
Old tile sign above the platforms

Central Square station opened along with Park Street Under, Kendall Square station, and Harvard Square station on March 23, 1912. Several 1912-built tile mosaics displaying the station name are still visible above the platforms. Similar mosaics are visible at a number of other older MBTA stations, including South Station and Broadway on the Red Line.

On January 26, 1978, heavy rains flooded the station.[2]

In the mid-1980s, the platforms were extended at many early-built Red Line stations, allowing six-car trains to be run beginning in January 1988.[3] The platforms at Central were extended to the northwest (contrary to original plans for the southeast) beginning on April 25, 1985, with new entrances placed west of Prospect Street.[4][5] As part of the Arts on the Line program, two works of public art were installed:[6][7]

  • East Indian, by Elizabeth Mapelli, seven fused glass tile murals behind benches on the platforms
  • Circle Square by Anne Storrs and Dennis Cunningham, 100 ceramic tile reliefs mounted above the station columns

The MBTA agreed to replace the inbound elevator as part of the 2006 settlement of Joanne Daniels-Finegold, et al. v. MBTA.[8] Notice to proceed was given in June 2017.[9] The elevator was closed on April 9, 2018; due to issues with conduits and a standpipe, completion was delayed by over a year to April 2, 2020.[10][11][12] The MBTA also plans to add two additional elevators to the station, and to replace the outbound elevator. As of May 2020, design is expected to be complete in 2020.[12]

Bus connections
Route 1 buses at Central station

Central is a major transfer station, with six MBTA bus routes running from the station to various parts of Cambridge, Somerville, Allston, and Boston.

References
  1. "A Guide to Ridership Data". MassDOT/MBTA Office of Performance Management and Innovation. June 22, 2020. p. 6.
  2. Moskowitz, Eric (18 November 2012). "Starts and Stops: MBTA receives first of long-delayed rail cars". Boston Globe. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). NETransit.
  4. Cambridge Community Development Department (2013). "Central Square: Final Report". p. 21. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  5. Sanborn, George M. (1992). A Chronicle of the Boston Transit System. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017 – via MIT.
  6. Howe, Peter J. (April 27, 1988). "MBTA hopes riders will be transported by art". Boston Globe. pp. 21, 35 – via Newspapers.com. (second page)
  7. "On the Red Line" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2017. p. 7.
  8. "Settlement Agreement" (PDF). Joanne Daniels-Finegold et al. v. MBTA. April 10, 2006. p. 18.
  9. Brelsford, Laura (November 26, 2019). "SWA Initiatives—November 2019" (PDF). p. 10-12.
  10. Dwyer, Dialynn (May 7, 2019). "Erin Murphy commutes 3 stops on the Red Line. Because an elevator is closed, it takes her 'close to an hour.'". Boston Globe.
  11. Connolly, Mike. "Update on the Central Inbound Elevator".
  12. Brelsford, Laura (May 26, 2020). "SWA Initiatives—May 2020" (PDF). pp. 10–11.
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