Gov. Charlie Baker, Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack and MBTA Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of the new Blue Hill Avenue Station on the Fairmont Commuter Rail Line.
“Construction of the Blue Hill Avenue Station is a long-awaited milestone for the Mattapan community,” said Baker. “Commuter rail access to and from Mattapan at the Blue Hill Avenue Station will provide faster and affordable access to jobs, educational opportunities, and economic growth along the entire Fairmount Line corridor.”
“This new station will serve as a vital connection to housing, jobs, retail destinations, and entertainment options,” said Pollack. “Having a commuter rail station stop off Blue Hill Avenue will open doors to a whole new world for many people who have been eager to have an efficient way to travel between their homes and downtown and to other major destinations.”
“Blue Hill Avenue Station wouldn't have been possible without a close working relationship with the neighborhoods we serve,” said Shortsleeve. “We're excited to provide another public transportation option to the community as we continue our major improvements along the Fairmount Line.”
The construction of Blue Hill Avenue Station is part of $130 million in Fairmount Line investments, including the opening of Talbot Avenue Station in 2012, the opening of Newmarket and Four Corners/Geneva Avenue Stations in 2013, bridge replacements, and significant rail and tie replacement work. Blue Hill Avenue will be located approximately 6.5 mi. from South Station and a quarter mile from Mattapan Square, featuring a center-island platform and two covered, fully accessible pedestrian ramps. The station's construction contract was awarded to McCourt Construction in January 2017 in the amount of $16.97 million. Blue Hill Avenue Station is expected to open to Fairmount Line customers in 2019 after a two-year construction period.
Construction of the new Blue Hill Avenue Station on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line will take place on weekends and in the evening weekday hours that began on June 3, for up to 24 months. During this time, weekend Fairmount Line trains will be replaced with dedicated shuttle buses between Morton Street and Readville Stations in both directions. Train service will be uninterrupted between Morton Street and South Station, in both directions. On weeknights, the last two outbound Fairmount Line trains from South Station will be replaced with dedicated shuttle buses serving all stops between South Station and Readville.
For more information, visit mbta.com.
