Lechmere (MBTA station)

Lechmere (MBTA station) is an elevated rapid transit station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line, located in the Lechmere Square area of Cambridge. It serves as the northern terminus for the Green Line E branch and a key transfer point for several MBTA bus routes. The station, named for the historic Lechmere department store, was completely rebuilt and relocated as part of the Green Line Extension project, reopening in 2022.

History

The original station opened in 1922 as Lechmere Square, a terminal for the Cambridge Railroad and later the Boston Elevated Railway. It was constructed to serve the bustling commercial district anchored by the Lechmere department store, founded by John Lechmere Welch. For decades, it was the northern terminus of the Green Line, with streetcars looping around a crossover at the station's throat. Planning for the Green Line Extension (GLX), mandated by the Big Dig project's Clean Air Act requirements, began in the 1990s. The old station closed in May 2020, and a new, larger station was built approximately 500 feet east, opening in March 2022 as the first new terminus of the extended Green Line into Somerville and Medford.

Station layout

The current station is a modern, fully accessible elevated structure with two side platforms serving two tracks. It is significantly larger than its predecessor, designed to accommodate longer, high-capacity Type 9 and Type 10 light rail vehicles. The station house is located at street level, featuring a spacious headhouse with fare vending machines and a CharlieCard validator area. Passengers ascend via elevators or stairs to the platform level, which is enclosed with glass windscreens and canopies. The design incorporates public art and improved wayfinding, part of the Green Line Extension's integrated art program.

Accessibility

Lechmere station is fully accessible, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. All entrances are at-grade, and high-speed elevators provide direct access from the headhouse to each platform. Platform edges are equipped with detectable warning strips, and the platforms are level with train floors for step-free boarding. The station also includes accessible fare gates and signage in Braille. Nearby, the City of Cambridge maintains accessible sidewalks and crosswalks connecting to Lechmere Square.

Services and connections

Lechmere is served by the Green Line E branch, providing direct service to North Station, Copley, and Heath Street. It is a major bus transfer hub, with connections to MBTA bus routes 69, 80, 87, and 88, serving Harvard Square, Sullivan Square, and Clarendon Hill. The station features a dedicated Bluebikes sharing station and is designed with improved bus boarding areas. Future plans under the MBTA's Bus Network Redesign may adjust connecting services.

Nearby points of interest

The station is centrally located in the revitalized Lechmere Square district, adjacent to the CambridgeSide Galleria shopping mall. It is within walking distance of major employers and institutions like the Broad Institute, Biogen, and the Kendall Square innovation district. The Charles River and related parklands, including the Charles River Bike Path, are nearby. The station also provides access to the East Cambridge neighborhood and the Museum of Science, located across the Charles River Dam.

Category:MBTA Green Line stations Category:Railway stations in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:Railway stations opened in 1922 Category:Elevated rapid transit stations in the United States