Owned by MBTA Platforms 2 side platforms Disabled access Yes | Line(s) Green Line "E" Branch Parking None available Opened 20 August 1955 | |
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Location Nashua & Charles Street at Charles River Dam at Leverett Circle, Boston MA. Address Boston, MA 02114, United States Owner Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Similar Museum of Science, Lechmere, Charles/MGH, Haymarket, Heath Street | ||
Science Park (signed as Science Park/West End) is an elevated light rail station on the MBTA Green Line, and is located at the Boston end of the Old Charles River Dam at Leverett Circle, near the intersection of Nashua Street and Charles Street (Storrow Drive). The station is located on the Lechmere Viaduct, which connects North Station to the Lechmere terminus of the Green Line. As of 2015, the station is served only by the Green Line "E" Branch, which runs from Heath Street to Lechmere. The station is located at an area of land called Science Park, which it is named after. It is near the Boston Museum of Science.
Science Park is one of a small number of elevated rapid transit stations remaining in the MBTA system. (The only others are Beachmont on the Blue line; Malden Center on the Orange Line; and Wollaston, Charles/MGH, and Fields Corner on the Red Line.) Boston once had several elevated lines, but the Atlantic Avenue Elevated, Charlestown Elevated, Washington Street Elevated, and Causeway Elevated were all torn down in favor of subway and surface-level lines. The station is an infill station, since Green Line trains passed frequently on existing tracks through the site for many years, before the station was built.
Science Park is not served by any regularly scheduled MBTA Bus service.
History
The Lechmere viaduct opened in June 1912, allowing streetcars from Somerville, Cambridge, and Charlestown direct access to the Tremont Street Subway, and the prepayment terminal at Lechmere opened in July 1930. However, there was no station located on the viaduct itself until Science Park station opened on August 20, 1955, with the station's name likely inspired by the opening of the Museum of Science nearby in 1951.
On January 21, 2009, station signage was changed to read "Science Park/West End", although the longer name does not always appear on MBTA maps or publications.
On April 30, 2011, Science Park and Lechmere stations were closed for a complete renovation of Science Park station. The elevated platforms (dating to 1955) were rebuilt, and elevators were added to make the station handicapped accessible. The platform level was raised slightly to allow level boarding on low-floor Type 8 trams, while ramps were added to allow wheelchair boarding on older high-floor Type 7 trams.
By closing the station during construction, the renovations were completed 6 months ahead of the original schedule. While both stations were closed, the MBTA operated a free shuttle bus service connecting them to North Station. Science Park station was reopened and regular service between Lechmere and North Station resumed on November 5, 2011.
As of 2015, the station is served solely by the Green Line "E" Branch. However, when the Green Line Extension is completed around 2019, the "D" Branch will be extended to College Avenue and begin serving Science Park in addition to the "E" Branch, which will be extended to Union Square. Additionally, one or more of the "B", "C", or "D" branches may be extended to Lechmere as a temporary air quality improvement measure due to delays in the Green Line Extension.