Kenmore station: Difference between revisions
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===1996 flood=== |
===1996 flood=== |
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The station was closed for two months in 1996, after the [[Muddy River, Massachusetts|Muddy River]] overflowed its banks, completely submerging the platform and some of the mezzanine.<ref name="MBTA Flood">{{cite news | author = Julie Masis | url =http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/26/rivers_revival_is_more_than_a_pipe_dream/ | title = River's revival is more than a pipe dream | publisher = [[The Boston Globe]]| accessdate =29 August 2007 | date=26 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="MBTA Flood 2">{{cite web |title=The Green Line Flood of 1996 |accessdate=29 August 2007 |date=15 November 1995 |author=Scott Moore |coauthors=George Chiasson, Jonathan Belcher |work=NETransit |url=http://members.aol.com/netransit8/flood/flood.html |archivedate=25 July 2008 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080725075644/http://members.aol.com/netransit8/flood/flood.html}} (Archived version from archive.org)</ref> During the closure, substitute service was provided by commuter rail trains between [[Riverside (MBTA station)|Riverside]] and South Station.<ref name="netransit">{{cite web |url=http://www.transithistory.org/roster/MBTARouteHistory.pdf |title=Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district |accessdate=21 January 2012 |last=Belcher |first=Jonathan |date=31 December 2011 |format=PDF |publisher=NETransit}}</ref> |
The station was closed for two months in 1996, after the [[Muddy River, Massachusetts|Muddy River]] overflowed its banks, completely submerging the platform and some of the mezzanine.<ref name="MBTA Flood">{{cite news | author = Julie Masis | url =http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/26/rivers_revival_is_more_than_a_pipe_dream/ | title = River's revival is more than a pipe dream | publisher = [[The Boston Globe]]| accessdate =29 August 2007 | date=26 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="MBTA Flood 2">{{cite web |title=The Green Line Flood of 1996 |accessdate=29 August 2007 |date=15 November 1995 |author=Scott Moore |coauthors=George Chiasson, Jonathan Belcher |work=NETransit |url=http://members.aol.com/netransit8/flood/flood.html |archivedate=25 July 2008 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080725075644/http://members.aol.com/netransit8/flood/flood.html}} (Archived version from archive.org)</ref> During the closure, substitute service was provided by commuter rail trains between [[Riverside (MBTA station)|Riverside]] and South Station.<ref name="netransit">{{cite web |url=http://www.transithistory.org/roster/MBTARouteHistory.pdf |title=Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district |accessdate=21 January 2012 |last=Belcher |first=Jonathan |date=31 December 2011 |format=PDF |publisher=NETransit}}</ref> A similar flood occurred on October 6, 1962, requiring closure of the station for five days.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/11/18/mbta-greets-first-long-delayed-south-korean-rail-cars/I58jypCDRHVHYVbuuTd4CI/story.html |title=Starts and Stops: MBTA receives first of long-delayed rail cars |author=Moskowitz, Eric |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=18 November 2012 |accessdate=18 November 2012}}</ref> |
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===Fares=== |
===Fares=== |
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Revision as of 23:35, 18 November 2012
KENMORE | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 Entrance to Kenmore Station | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 42°20′56.13″N 71°5′44.19″W / 42.3489250°N 71.0956083°W | |||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | |||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Green Line "B," "C," and "D" branch | |||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 island platforms | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | 8 spaces | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | October 23, 1932 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 2005-2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 daily | 8,653[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Kenmore (also known as Kenmore Square) is an MBTA light rail station in the Kenmore Square area of Boston, Massachusetts, and serves the Green Line B, C, and D branches. The station is located at the convergence of three major surface roads: Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline Avenue, and Beacon Street.[2] The station opened in 1932.
Configuration and services
Kenmore station is five stops and a nominal 12-minute ride from Park Street, the hub of the Green and Red lines. The station serves as the branching off point for the B, C, and D trains on the Green Line. While all trains converge on the same route going inbound (excepting the E train which doesn't join the others until Copley Square), when going outbound they split both before and after Kenmore station, branching off into different above-ground routes.
The tracks are configured for use as a dual-island platform, with outbound trains for the C and D branches sharing the outer tracks, and trains for the B branch on the inner tracks. The northernmost island platform serves outbound passengers on all lines, while the other island platform serves all inbound trains. The B branch uses a flying junction just west (outbound) of the station to branch off, while the C and D branches continue together a short distance west of Kenmore station, and then split once more at an awkward flat junction.
Nearby attractions
Kenmore station is the primary station for passengers wishing to go to Fenway Park, located just one block away. However, some sports fans exit at Fenway station despite its longer distance from the stadium, bypassing congestion in Kenmore Square.
History
The station opened in 1932, replacing the former Kenmore Incline, whose portal archway can still be seen east of Kenmore Square. The Commonwealth Avenue (B) and Beacon Street (C) services were routed through the station from its opening day. Until its shutdown in 1969, the Green Line "A" Branch to Watertown Square shared the B branch tracks, running along Commonwealth Avenue to Packard's Corner, where it branched off onto Brighton Avenue. Green Line service on the Highland Branch (D) began in 1959.
A loop track, officially called the Kenmore Loop, connects the inbound and outbound C/D branch tracks, allowing reversal of direction without entering the main subway. Although it is currently used for overnight storage of Green Line cars, it was originally built for use in regular service. The B Branch was planned to be converted to conventional heavy rail stock (like the Blue, Red, and Orange lines) and moved into a tunnel under Commonwealth Avenue, while the C Branch (the D Branch was not yet in operation) was to use the loop rather than continuing into the Tremont Street Subway. Streetcar passengers would make a cross-platform transfer to subway trains, similar to the former configuration at Ashmont.
Because the inner pair of tracks were planned to be converted to high-level platform service, a trench was excavated to accommodate heavy rail rolling stock. A temporary wooden structure was installed to fill this cavity to the platform level, allowing the temporary use of streetcars on the inner tracks. Because of the hollow space resonating beneath, movement of trains on the inner tracks was accompanied by loud rumbling noises. Over the years, it became clear that the Commonwealth Avenue (B) Branch was unlikely to be converted to heavy rail service. During a station shutdown for renovations, the trench cavity was filled with dirt and concrete, considerably reducing low-frequency rumble in the station.
1996 flood
The station was closed for two months in 1996, after the Muddy River overflowed its banks, completely submerging the platform and some of the mezzanine.[3][4] During the closure, substitute service was provided by commuter rail trains between Riverside and South Station.[5] A similar flood occurred on October 6, 1962, requiring closure of the station for five days.[6]
Fares
Until January 1, 2007, Kenmore was the last Green Line station heading outbound where passengers were required to pay a fare upon boarding, and boarding outbound trains at surface stops was free. It was for this reason that fans going home from the game to the Newton Highlands region (serviced by the D Branch) were advised to use the Fenway stop.
Passengers now must pay fares at all Green Line surface stops regardless of whether they are going inbound or outbound.
Accessibility improvements
In 2005, Kenmore station underwent reconstruction in order to make the station ADA-accessible. Despite almost constant work, the station was kept in operation. Major changes included elevators and escalators, and a new bus shelter with a transparent semi-arched canopy placed in the middle of Kenmore Square.[7] The Boston Globe reported that there were severe delays in construction and that the project would be completed by November 2007;[8] renovation work was finally completed in April 2010.[9] Kenmore station is now fully wheelchair accessible.
Bus connections
- 8 Harbor Point/UMass via South End Medical Area & Dudley Station
- 19 Fields Corner Sta. via Grove Hall, Dudley Station & Ruggles Sta.
- 57 Watertown Yard via Newton Corner & Brighton Center (this bus route replaced the former Green Line "A" Branch service)
- 60 Chestnut Hill via Brookline Village & Cypress St.
- 65 Brighton Center via Washington St., Brookline Village & Brookline Ave.
During track work and service disruptions, substitute bus service is provided from Kenmore.
References
- ^ "Ridership and Service Statistics" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- ^ Google Maps. Google Inc. Retrieved 2 February 2008
- ^ Julie Masis (26 August 2007). "River's revival is more than a pipe dream". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
- ^ Scott Moore (15 November 1995). "The Green Line Flood of 1996". NETransit. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) (Archived version from archive.org) - ^ Belcher, Jonathan (31 December 2011). "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). NETransit. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- ^ Moskowitz, Eric (18 November 2012). "Starts and Stops: MBTA receives first of long-delayed rail cars". Boston Globe. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ "Transit Projects: Kenmore Station". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008.
- ^ Mac Daniel (4 March 2007). "Kenmore T work now in extra innings". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
- ^ Adam G (22 April 2010). "Can you believe it? Kenmore station officially finished". Universalhub. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
External links
