Yawkey (MBTA station)
Encyclopedia
Yawkey is a station on the MBTA
Commuter Rail
Framingham/Worcester Line
. It is situated near Fenway Park
, Boston University
and the Longwood Medical and Academic Area
in the Fenway-Kenmore
section of Boston.
Although originally intended solely for special service to Fenway Park, the station is now serviced by regularly scheduled commuter trains and is used by workers from the Longwood Medical Area.
As of 2011, the station has a single three-car-long passenger platform on the southerly (inbound) track, which is shared by both inbound and outbound trains. Because of the short platform, passengers exiting trains at Yawkey must be in the front three cars of the train on outbound trains, or the rearmost three cars on inbound trains.
games. It was used for Framingham Line trains as well as special "Fenway Flyer" baseball trains from the Attleboro (now Providence/Stoughton) and Franklin lines; such trains had an annual ridership of 58,000 in 1990. Due to the availability of regular commuter service, "Fenway Flyer" trains no longer run. However, similar special trains continue to serve Foxboro
during football and soccer games at Gillette Stadium.
Regular weekday commuter service to the station begun on January 2, 2001, and weekend service on non-game days began on April 30 the same year. As of 2011, not all trains stop at the station; most peak-direction trains stop, but most off-peak trains do not.
On November 15, 2010, Governor Deval Patrick
and other officials broke ground on a major rebuilding of the station, expected to be completed in the spring of 2012. The new station will have two full-length high-level platforms; the old platform has only a wooden ramp for accessibility. The two platforms will be connected with a footbridge, and passengers will no longer have to cross the tracks to access outbound trains. Projected stopping service is to increase from 17 to 40 trains per day. The new station, projected to cost $13.5 million USD, will be powered entirely by solar panels. It is the first part of a larger, private development called Fenway Center. Although the developer, Meredith Corporation
, wished to close the station during rebuilding, the MBTA elected to keep it open.
. The Urban Ring will be a Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) Line designed to connect the current MBTA Lines to reduce strain on the downtown stations.
Under the current plan, the Urban Ring would access Fenway via Mountfort Street to the north and a new tunnel paralleling the Green Line "D" Branch to the southwest, with a turnoff and station at Overland Street.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
Framingham/Worcester Line
Framingham/Worcester Line
The Framingham/Worcester Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from Boston, Massachusetts to Worcester, Massachusetts, though some trains terminate at Framingham, Massachusetts...
. It is situated near Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and the Longwood Medical and Academic Area
Longwood Medical and Academic Area
The Longwood Medical and Academic Area is a medical campus in Boston....
in the Fenway-Kenmore
Fenway-Kenmore
Fenway–Kenmore is an official neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. While it is considered one neighborhood for administrative purposes, it is composed of numerous distinct sections and in casual conversation are almost always referred to as "Fenway," "Kenmore Square," or "Kenmore."...
section of Boston.
Although originally intended solely for special service to Fenway Park, the station is now serviced by regularly scheduled commuter trains and is used by workers from the Longwood Medical Area.
As of 2011, the station has a single three-car-long passenger platform on the southerly (inbound) track, which is shared by both inbound and outbound trains. Because of the short platform, passengers exiting trains at Yawkey must be in the front three cars of the train on outbound trains, or the rearmost three cars on inbound trains.
History
Yawkey was opened on April 29, 1988, and initially was only used for special service to Fenway Park to and from Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
games. It was used for Framingham Line trains as well as special "Fenway Flyer" baseball trains from the Attleboro (now Providence/Stoughton) and Franklin lines; such trains had an annual ridership of 58,000 in 1990. Due to the availability of regular commuter service, "Fenway Flyer" trains no longer run. However, similar special trains continue to serve Foxboro
Foxboro (MBTA station)
Foxboro station on the MBTA Commuter Rail system is only used for special events, such as New England Patriots football games, at nearby Gillette Stadium. It lies on a freight line between Mansfield and Framingham, owned by CSX as their Framingham Subdivision...
during football and soccer games at Gillette Stadium.
Regular weekday commuter service to the station begun on January 2, 2001, and weekend service on non-game days began on April 30 the same year. As of 2011, not all trains stop at the station; most peak-direction trains stop, but most off-peak trains do not.
On November 15, 2010, Governor Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
and other officials broke ground on a major rebuilding of the station, expected to be completed in the spring of 2012. The new station will have two full-length high-level platforms; the old platform has only a wooden ramp for accessibility. The two platforms will be connected with a footbridge, and passengers will no longer have to cross the tracks to access outbound trains. Projected stopping service is to increase from 17 to 40 trains per day. The new station, projected to cost $13.5 million USD, will be powered entirely by solar panels. It is the first part of a larger, private development called Fenway Center. Although the developer, Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation
The Meredith Corporation is a media conglomerate based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The company has two divisions, National Media and Local Media.-History:...
, wished to close the station during rebuilding, the MBTA elected to keep it open.
Accessibility
The existing station is accessible, with a wheelchair ramp on the west end of the platform. The new station under construction as of 2011 is planned to be fully accessible.Future plans
Yawkey Station is a proposed stop on the MBTA's proposed Urban Ring ProjectUrban Ring Project (MBTA)
The Urban Ring is a project of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, to develop new public transportation line that would provide improved circumferential connections among many existing transit lines that project radially from downtown...
. The Urban Ring will be a Bus Rapid Transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) Line designed to connect the current MBTA Lines to reduce strain on the downtown stations.
Under the current plan, the Urban Ring would access Fenway via Mountfort Street to the north and a new tunnel paralleling the Green Line "D" Branch to the southwest, with a turnoff and station at Overland Street.