Tufts Medical Center station

Tufts Medical Center station is an underground MBTA subway station located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It serves the Orange Line and the Silver Line (Washington Street) bus rapid transit route, providing a critical transportation link for the adjacent Tufts Medical Center and the surrounding area. The station is a key multimodal hub, facilitating connections between high-capacity rail and bus services in the heart of Boston's downtown core.

History

The station originally opened on November 30, 1908, as part of the Washington Street Tunnel, constructed by the Boston Elevated Railway to extend Tremont Street subway streetcar lines. It was initially named **Boylston Street** and later renamed **New England Medical Center** in 1977 to reflect its proximity to the New England Medical Center hospital. The station was completely rebuilt between 1987 and 1988 during the relocation of the Orange Line from the Atlantic Avenue Elevated to the new Southwest Corridor alignment, which included the construction of new platforms and a headhouse. In 2010, following the hospital's name change, the station was renamed to its current title. A major accessibility renovation from 2012 to 2013 added elevators, tactile warning strips, and other improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Station layout

The station consists of two distinct, non-connected levels. The upper level contains the two side platforms for the Orange Line, located in the original 1908 Washington Street Tunnel. The lower level, constructed in the early 2000s, houses the two side platforms for the Silver Line (Washington Street) bus rapid transit service, which runs in a dedicated tunnel. The main entrance is located at the intersection of Washington Street and Kneeland Street, with a secondary entrance on Tremont Street near Stuart Street. Design features include artwork installations commissioned through the MBTA Arts & Design program and extensive wayfinding signage for the medical center.

Services and connections

The station is served by the Orange Line, providing northbound service towards Oak Grove and southbound service towards Forest Hills. The underground Silver Line (Washington Street) platform offers service to South Station and Nubian Square. Key surface-level bus connections at nearby stops include MBTA Bus routes 11, 43, and 55. The station is also a short walk from Chinatown station on the Silver Line (Waterfront) and is served by the Bluebikes bike-sharing system.

Nearby points of interest

The station's primary namesake and adjacent institution is the Tufts Medical Center, a major academic medical center affiliated with the Tufts University School of Medicine. It is situated in the heart of Chinatown, providing access to numerous restaurants, cultural institutions, and the Chinatown Gate. Other notable landmarks within walking distance include the Emerson College campus, the Wang Theatre, the Boch Center, and the Boston Common. The station also provides access to the Theatre District and the southern edge of Downtown Crossing.

Future developments

Potential future developments are tied to broader MBTA and city planning initiatives. The station is identified as a potential transfer point in long-range proposals for extending the Blue Line or creating new BRT corridors. The ongoing downtown planning study, *Go Boston 2030*, considers improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access around the station. While no major station expansion is currently funded, its central location makes it a candidate for integration with future transit-oriented development projects in the Chinatown and Leather District areas.

Category:MBTA Orange Line stations Category:MBTA Silver Line stations Category:Railway stations opened in 1908 Category:Railway stations in Boston Category:Buildings and structures in Chinatown, Boston