Fields Corner station

Fields Corner is a rapid transit station on the Ashmont branch of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Red Line, located in the Fields Corner district of Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. It serves as a major transfer point for MBTA bus service. The station opened in 1927 and was completely rebuilt from 2004 to 2008, making it fully accessible.

Fields Corner
An inbound train at Fields Corner station in July 2013
Location50 Freeman Street
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°18′00″N 71°03′42″W
Line(s)Shawmut Branch Railroad (Ashmont branch)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Connections MBTA bus: 15, 17, 18, 19, 191, 201, 202, 210
Construction
Disabled accessYes
History
OpenedNovember 5, 1927
RebuiltMarch 2004–September 23, 2008
Passengers
FY20194,948 boardings (weekday average)[1]
Services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Savin Hill
toward Alewife
 Red Line Shawmut
toward Ashmont

History
The 1927-built station in 2004

Fields Corner and Savin Hill stations opened on November 5, 1927. Fields Corner was the southern terminus of the line for about a year until Shawmut and Ashmont station opened in 1928.[2] The elevated station was designed for efficient transfer between rapid transit trains and surface streetcars and buses. It had two island platforms with the rapid transit tracks in the center and the streetcar tracks on the outside (two tracks on the north side). A busway (later closed) was located at ground level on the south side of the station.

The pedestrian tunnel from Charles Street was controversially closed in January 1970 due to crime and vandalism.[3] In the mid-1980s, the platforms were extended for six-car trains, which were introduced in 1988.[2]

The MBTA issued a $4.3 million design contract for renovations of Ashmont, Shawmut, and Fields Corner stations on May 3, 2001.[4]:24 Shawmut and Fields Corner reached 100% design by January 10, 2003; Ashmont was delayed due to design changes.[4]:25 The MBTA broke ground for the Red Line Rehabilitation Project - a $67 million reconstruction of Shawmut, Fields Corner, and Savin Hill stations - in October 2003.[5]

Construction began in March 2004.[6] The renovations changed the layout of the station, with a new fare lobby under the tracks.[7] Original plans to include public art as part of the Arts on the Line program were removed in budget cuts; only historical interpretive panels were installed.[8][9] The new entrance lobby opened on December 22, 2006, making it the final fare-controlled station on the MBTA to be converted to use the CharlieCard-based automated fare collection system.[10] The station renovation was completed on September 23, 2008.[11]

Bus connections
The south busway at Fields Corner

Fields Corner is a major MBTA bus transfer point serviced by seven local routes and limited service route 191:

References
  1. "A Guide to Ridership Data". MassDOT/MBTA Office of Performance Management and Innovation. June 22, 2020. p. 9.
  2. Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). NETransit.
  3. Carr, Robert (January 20, 1970). "Crimes Force Close of Pedestrian Tunnel". Boston Globe. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Official Audit Report – Issued June 16, 2014: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, For the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2012 (PDF) (Report). Auditor of the Commonwealth. June 16, 2014.
  5. "MBTA Breaks Ground On Three New Red Line Stations" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. October 7, 2003. Archived from the original on December 2, 2003.
  6. "Red Line Rehabilitation Project To Begin" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 5, 2004. Archived from the original on April 18, 2004.
  7. "MBTA Fields Corner Station". Cambridge Seven Associates. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016.
  8. Slack, Donovan (April 19, 2003). "Budget cuts leave no room for art at Dorchester T stops". Boston Globe. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "On the Red Line" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2017. pp. 10, 11.
  10. Ryan, Andrew (December 23, 2006). "Last T Station Converted To New Fare Equipment". Boston Globe – via Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  11. "Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino Celebrate Completion of Fields Corner Station" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 23, 2008.
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