East Somerville station

East Somerville station is a light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line, located in the East Somerville neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts. It is part of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project, which added new service into Medford and Union Square. The station opened for regular passenger service on March 21, 2022, restoring rapid transit to an area that had not seen passenger rail service since the closure of the Somerville Junction commuter rail stop in 1958.

History

The area's rail history dates to the 19th century with the Fitchburg Railroad and the Lowell Railroad, whose lines converged near the site. A station known as Somerville Junction served the Boston and Lowell Railroad's Lowell Line until passenger service was discontinued in 1958, a casualty of the national shift towards automobile and bus travel. For decades, the GLX Project was planned to address regional transit equity and fulfill commitments made during the Big Dig project to mitigate increased automobile traffic. After overcoming funding challenges and redesigns, major construction began in 2018. The station opened alongside the rest of the initial GLX segment to Union Square and Medford/Tufts, marking a significant expansion of the MBTA subway system.

Station layout

The station is located in a shallow open-cut, running east–west along the former Lowell Line right-of-way. It features two side platforms serving the line's two tracks. The headhouse, containing fare vending machines and a fare gate array, is situated at street level on the south side of the tracks on Washington Street, with a secondary entrance on Joy Street. The design emphasizes accessibility, with elevators and ramps providing full ADA compliance. Artwork integrated into the station, part of the MBTA's Arts on the Line program, reflects the industrial and cultural history of East Somerville.

Services and connections

East Somerville station is served by the Green Line E branch trains traveling between Union Square and Heath Street, via Lechmere and the Central Subway. Typical headways are approximately 7–8 minutes during peak periods. The station functions as a key transit hub for the densely populated residential neighborhood, with several MBTA bus routes connecting at nearby stops on Broadway and McGrath Highway, including routes 80, 87, 88, and 90. The station area includes improved pedestrian infrastructure and bicycle parking to support multimodal transport.

Future developments

The station is expected to anchor local transit-oriented development, with the City of Somerville planning for increased residential and commercial density under its SomerVision comprehensive plan. No immediate expansions to the station itself are planned, but its operation is integral to the MBTA's long-term network goals. These include potential future Green Line routing adjustments and increased service frequency as part of system-wide upgrades like the Green Line Transformation program. The success of the GLX Project may also inform planning for other potential extensions, such as the Urban Ring Project.

See also

* List of MBTA subway stations * Transportation in Somerville, Massachusetts * Green Line Extension * Somerville Junction

Category:MBTA Green Line stations Category:Railway stations in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Category:Railway stations opened in 2022 Category:Somerville, Massachusetts Category:Buildings and structures in Somerville, Massachusetts