Heath Street (MBTA station)

Heath Street (MBTA station) is a surface-level light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line, located at the intersection of Heath Street and South Huntington Avenue in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It serves as the current southern terminus of the Green Line E branch, which operates through the Huntington Avenue subway and along the surface South Huntington Avenue right-of-way. The station provides critical public transit access to the Heath Street residential area, the Arnold Arboretum, and several major medical institutions.

History

The station's history is tied to the development of streetcar lines serving Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. Service began on February 16, 1941, when the Boston Elevated Railway opened the Huntington Avenue subway and extended the E branch streetcars from Northeastern University to Arborway. The station, originally named Heath, was also served by the A branch to Watertown until that service was discontinued in 1969. In 1989, the MBTA truncated the E branch from Arborway to Heath Street, making it the permanent terminus, a change that followed community opposition to the complete removal of streetcar service. A major accessibility renovation project, part of the MBTA's system-wide ADA compliance program, was undertaken from 2019 to 2022.

Station layout

Heath Street is a simple surface station with two side platforms serving the two-track right-of-way located in the median of South Huntington Avenue. The inbound platform is north of Heath Street, while the outbound terminal platform is south of the intersection. The 2019–2022 renovation rebuilt both platforms to be fully accessible, featuring tactile warning strips, accessible boarding areas, and new canopies. A small bus loop and passenger drop-off area is located adjacent to the outbound platform. The station lacks a traditional headhouse; fare payment is handled via onboard fare validation or at street-level CharlieCard readers.

Accessibility

The station is fully accessible following the completion of the 2019–2022 renovation project. Both platforms are at level with train floors, eliminating the need for lifts or ramps for boarding. Accessible pathways connect the platforms to the sidewalks on Heath Street and South Huntington Avenue, and the bus loop is also designed for accessible boarding. The improvements were part of the MBTA's Capital Investment Plan to bring the entire Green Line into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Services and connections

The station is served exclusively by the Green Line E branch, providing direct service to Symphony, Copley, Government Center, North Station, and Lechmere. Key bus connections at the adjacent bus loop include MBTA Bus routes 14 and 39, which provide service to Roslindale, Forest Hills Station, Back Bay, and Copley Square. The station also offers limited bicycle parking.

Nearby points of interest

The station provides access to several major institutions and green spaces. The renowned Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is located directly to the southwest. Several major medical facilities are within walking distance, including the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and the Faulkner Hospital. The station also serves the residential communities of Jamaica Plain and the Mission Hill neighborhood, with proximity to Jamaica Pond and the Emerald Necklace park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

Category:MBTA Green Line stations Category:Railway stations in Boston Category:Jamaica Plain, Boston Category:Railway stations opened in 1941