Bicycle facilities 8 spaces Rebuilt 2005-2010 Platforms in use 2 | Disabled access Yes Opened 23 October 1932 Tracks 4 | |
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Location 500 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts Owned by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Line(s) Green Line "B," "C," and "D" branches Address Boston, MA 02215, United States Owner Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Similar Blandford Street, Park Street, Copley, Government Center, Haymarket | ||
Kenmore is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line, located under Kenmore Square in the Fenway/Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The station opened on October 23, 1932 as a one-station extension of the Boylston Street Subway to relieve congestion in the square.
Contents
Kenmore 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 on October 23, 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" Branch) began on July 4, 1959.
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. During the closure, substitute service was provided by commuter rail trains between Riverside and South Station. A similar flood previously occurred on October 6, 1962, requiring closure of the station for five days.
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 fully handicapped 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. The Boston Globe reported that there were severe delays in construction and that the project would be completed by November 2007; renovation work was finally completed in April 2010. Kenmore station is now fully wheelchair accessible.
Station layout
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.
Kenmore Loop
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 was to move 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.
Bus connections
During track work and service disruptions on the three branch lines, substitute bus service is often provided from Kenmore.