University Station (MBTA)

University Station (MBTA) is a light rail station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line, located in the heart of Boston University's campus along Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. It primarily serves the large student population and faculty of the university, as well as residents of the surrounding Fenway–Kenmore and Allston–Brighton neighborhoods. The station was completely rebuilt in the early 2020s as part of the Green Line Transformation program to become fully accessible.

History

The station's history is tied to the development of the Boston and Albany Railroad's Highland branch, which was converted to streetcar use and became the core of the Green Line B branch. It opened in 1922 as Boston University Station, named for the adjacent Boston University campus which was expanding along Commonwealth Avenue. For decades, it served as a critical transit link for the growing university community and the Fenway–Kenmore area. In 2021, the station closed for a comprehensive, $33 million reconstruction as part of the MBTA's system-wide accessibility initiative, reopening in early 2024 with new platforms, canopies, and elevators.

Station layout

The station features two side platforms serving the two tracks of the Green Line B branch, aligned in the median of Commonwealth Avenue. The design includes fully accessible, high-level platforms with tactile warning strips, modern canopies for weather protection, and a central headhouse structure containing fare vending machines and elevator access. The architectural design references the collegiate Gothic style of nearby Boston University buildings, using materials like brick and precast concrete. Passenger amenities include real-time arrival displays, Bluebikes docking stations, and improved lighting and signage.

Accessibility

University Station is fully accessible following its 2021–2024 reconstruction, a key project under the MBTA's Green Line Transformation program. Elevators provide access from the sidewalk on both sides of Commonwealth Avenue directly to each platform, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The high-level platforms eliminate the gap between the train and the platform, and the station features tactile paving, audible announcements, and accessible fare gates. This upgrade addressed a longstanding gap in the MBTA subway system's accessibility within a major academic and residential corridor.

Connections

The station functions as a major bus transfer point within the MBTA bus network, with several key routes stopping directly adjacent to the platforms on Commonwealth Avenue. Primary connections include the MBTA bus routes 57 (to Kenmore and Watertown), 193 (to Haymarket and Beverly), and the CT2 route linking Sullivan Square and Ruggles. The station is also a hub for the Bluebikes bike-share system and includes designated pick-up/drop-off areas for ridesharing services.

Nearby points of interest

The station is centrally located within the main campus of Boston University, providing direct access to key facilities like the George Sherman Union, Mugar Memorial Library, and the College of Communication. It is also within walking distance of Nickerson Field, the Boston University Bridge leading to Cambridge, and the Museum of Fine Arts. The surrounding Fenway–Kenmore neighborhood is home to Fenway Park, Landmark Center, and numerous academic buildings of the Boston University Medical Campus.

Category:MBTA Green Line stations Category:Railway stations in Boston Category:Boston University Category:Railway stations opened in 1922