Ball Square station

Ball Square station is a light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line, located in the Ball Square neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts. It serves the Green Line E branch, which was extended as part of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project. The station opened for passenger service on March 21, 2022, restoring rail transit to a corridor that had been without it since the 1980s.

History

The station site has a long history of rail service, originally hosting a stop known as Somerville Junction on the Boston and Lowell Railroad main line. Passenger service on the line through the area was discontinued in 1938, though freight service continued for decades. The corridor was later used for the Orange Line's rapid transit service until the Haymarket North Extension project rerouted that line in 1975. The right-of-way was then used for the Green Line E branch's Arborway Line service until its truncation in 1985. Advocacy for restoration, led by groups like the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the City of Somerville, culminated in the Green Line Extension project. Construction, managed by the GLX Constructors joint venture, began in 2018, and the station opened alongside the rest of the GLX Union Branch on March 21, 2022.

Station layout

The station features two side platforms serving the line's two tracks, which run in a northwest-southeast alignment through the neighborhood. Platform canopies provide shelter, and the station includes standard MBTA amenities like digital signage, lighting, and benches. The design incorporates public art, including a mural by local artist David Fichter titled "The River of Life," which reflects the area's history and community. The station's architecture uses materials like glass, steel, and precast concrete, consistent with the other stations on the Green Line Extension. A prominent headhouse structure at the southeast end contains the main entrance and fare vending machines.

Accessibility

Ball Square station is fully accessible, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Elevators provide access from the street level to both platforms, and the platforms are level with train floors for step-free boarding. Tactile warning strips run along the platform edges for safety. Accessible parking is not provided on-site, as the station is situated in a dense urban neighborhood, but it is served by multiple accessible bus routes.

Services and connections

The station is served by the Green Line E branch, providing frequent service to Medford/Tufts and Heath Street via Lechmere and Copley. Key transfer points include Union Square for the Green Line D branch and North Station for the Commuter Rail and Orange Line. The station is a major bus transfer hub, served by MBTA bus routes 80, 89, and 90, which connect to surrounding communities like Arlington, Davis Square, and Sullivan Square. The station area features Bluebikes bicycle-sharing docks and secure bicycle parking.

Nearby points of interest

The station is centrally located in the vibrant Ball Square commercial district, known for its restaurants and cafes like Sound Bites and Kelly's Diner. It is within walking distance of several academic and cultural institutions, including Tufts University and the Museum of Bad Art. The station provides access to the Somerville Community Path, a popular recreational trail that connects to the Minuteman Bikeway and Alewife. Other nearby landmarks include Trum Field, Nathan Tufts Park, and the Powder House historic site. Category:MBTA Green Line stations Category:Railway stations in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Category:Buildings and structures in Somerville, Massachusetts Category:Railway stations opened in 2022