Construction On Newtonville MBTA Station To Begin This Fall

NEWTON, MA — The long-awaited reconstruction of the Newtonville MBTA commuter rail station is expected to begin this fall, with city and transit officials outlining a timeline that will bring years of construction before a fully accessible station opens in 2029.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority updated residents on the project on Wednesday, announcing construction is scheduled to begin in November. The existing station will close in December and remain out of service throughout construction.

Mayor Marc Laredo said the project marks a major investment in public transportation for Newton despite the temporary disruptions residents can expect during construction.

According to the city, the work will create a fully accessible commuter rail station along Washington Street while improving reliability on the Framingham and Worcester border.

Construction is expected to affect nearby residents and commuters for more than two years. City officials said the project will generate construction noise, reduce parking availability, and affect travel lanes along portions of Washington Street. The MBTA has also developed alternative transit options for riders while the station is closed, and city officials said they are continuing to work with the agency to minimize disruptions as much as possible.

The project will replace the existing station with two 400-foot high-level platforms connected by a pedestrian bridge equipped with elevators, allowing level boarding for passengers using wheelchairs, parents with strollers, and travelers with luggage. Plans also include new canopies, benches, bicycle racks, lighting, security cameras, emergency blue-light phones, wayfinding signage, tactile warning strips, and upgrades to the track and signal system.

The reconstruction will make Newtonville the first fully ADA-accessible commuter rail station in Newton. Newtonville is also the busiest of the city's three commuter rail stations, and state and local officials have said the improvements are expected to support future transit-oriented development in the village center while expanding access to public transportation.

Early construction work is expected to focus on utility relocation and retaining wall installation before major station construction begins. The MBTA awarded the construction contract to Consigli Construction Co.

The project has been years in the making. State and local officials formally announced plans to rebuild the station in late 2024 after securing federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Laredo credited U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss for helping secure federal funding and former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller for advocating for the project.

The Newtonville reconstruction is also the first phase of a broader effort to modernize Newton's commuter rail stations. City and MBTA officials have previously said similar accessibility improvements are planned for the West Newton and Auburndale stations as additional funding becomes available.

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