On May 6, the MBTA announced a three-year closure of Symphony Station for renovations.
Located at the intersection of Massachusetts and Huntington Avenue, Symphony Station services the E Branch of the Green Line. Construction started earlier in May, and the station is expected to reopen by summer of 2029. The station is 85 years old and has not gone through any significant upgrades since its opening, making renovations long overdue.
Several stations on the Green Line are currently inaccessible for passengers who are disabled, elderly or injured. Many commuters also face issues with slow, out-of-service trains or shuttle buses. This renovation is part of an ongoing initiative to make the MBTA more accessible, safe and innovative.
The main goal of the renovation is to ensure that the entrance to the platform is step-free — meaning that both the gaps between the street and platform, as well as between the platform and train, are wheelchair accessible. The project also features four new accessible elevators, improved bathrooms and lighting, raised platforms for easier boarding and upgraded safety features.
With Symphony Station in close proximity to Boston Latin School, students who rely on the Green Line for transportation to and from school express their concern for their commutes. Christine Huang (IV) comments, “I think the biggest challenge during the closure would be the speed and how long it takes to go home.”
Instead of departing from or arriving at Symphony Station, riders can do so at the Northeastern University or Prudential stations. Other alternatives include the Orange Line and the Route 39 bus, which operates parallel to the E Branch.
In addition to Symphony Station, the Red Line has also been affected by renovations. Nadine Brinkman (V), a student commuter, has seen significant delays with public transportation in the past. They remark, “After the first few closures last year, I noticed that the speeds between the stations got faster. So, they have done some track improvements, but overall, since there’s so many closures, you can’t really experience having it be faster.”
Students who already have lengthy commutes will be heavily affected by these transportation problems. Even though the duration of closure is long, students are awaiting improvements in the future.
The current budget is 150.8 million dollars for the service renovation and another 20 million dollars for utility renovation. This ensures that even with the long wait time, riders will be able to expect a safe and reliable service.
With a large budget, the MBTA shows its commitment to modernizing Symphony Station as well as improving the overall quality of its rides. BLS Director of Operations Ms. Jesse Kwan remarks, “Hopefully, they will have improvements. I think accessibility is a huge issue, […] but overall, it’s a good thing that they’re improving.”