Eastern Avenue station

Eastern Avenue is a station on the MBTA Silver Line bus rapid transit system. It opened as part of a new branch to Chelsea, Massachusetts on April 21, 2018.

Eastern Ave
Eastern Avenue station in July 2018
LocationEastern Avenue at Central Avenue
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Coordinates42.388453°N 71.023984°W / 42.388453; -71.023984
Line(s)Silver Line busway
Platforms2 side platforms
Connections MBTA bus: 112
Construction
Disabled accessYes
History
OpenedApril 21, 2018
Services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Airport
toward South Station
 Silver Line Box District
toward Chelsea

History
The station under construction in 2017

From 1849 to 1955, the freight-only Grand Junction Railroad ran through Chelsea. The MBTA later proposed to use the right-of-way as part of the Urban Ring project, which would have been a circumferential bus rapid transit line. The 2008 Draft Environmental Impact Report called for a dedicated busway on the former railroad as far east as a station on Griffin Way, where buses would rejoin the street network.[1] Although the full project was shelved in 2010 due to the MBTA's financial difficulties, some corridor routes are receiving more limited work.[2]

In March 2013, the MBTA began studying an extension of the Silver Line to Chelsea via a newly constructed bypass road in East Boston. Three alternatives were discussed for the Chelsea section, two of which would run up the abandoned section of the Grand Junction Railroad right-of-way from Eastern Avenue to downtown Chelsea, with intermediate stops at Eastern Avenue (next to an existing Massport employee garage and bus loop) and Highland/Box District.[3] In September 2013, the MBTA indicated that it would pursue the first alternative - which also included busway stops at Bellingham Square and Chelsea.[4]

On October 30, 2013, MassDOT announced $82.5 million in state funding for a modified version of the first alternative to be constructed, with completion then expected in late 2015.[5] A construction contract was approved in September 2014, and construction began in March 2015.[6][2][7] Silver Line service on the SL3 branch began on April 21, 2018.[8]

References
  1. "The Urban Ring Phase 2: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement" (PDF). Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation. November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2017.
  2. "Silver Line Gateway" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. June 5, 2017. p. 3.
  3. "Silver Line Gateway Alternatives Analysis" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  4. Hamwey, Scott (18 September 2013). "Silver Line Gateway Alternatives Analysis: Public Meeting – September 18, 2013" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  5. "Governor Patrick Announces MBTA Silver Line Expansion". Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. October 30, 2013.
  6. "MBTA Silver Line to Chelsea Approved" (Press release). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. September 17, 2014.
  7. "Silver Line Gateway Project Overview". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. March 2018. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018.
  8. "Silver Line 3 Update" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 12, 2018.
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