Science Park station (MBTA)


Science Park station is an elevated light rail station on the MBTA Green Line. It is located at the Boston end of the Old Charles River Dam at Leverett Circle, near the intersection of Nashua Street and Charles Street. The station is located at the south end of the Lechmere Viaduct, which carries the Green Line over the Charles River Prior. The station is named for the nearby Boston Museum of Science.
Service to Science Park and stations is replaced by shuttle buses from May 24, 2020, to April 2021 due to construction of the Green Line Extension project.

History

The Lechmere viaduct opened in June 1912, allowing streetcars from Somerville, Cambridge, and Charlestown direct access to the Tremont Street subway, and the prepayment terminal at Lechmere opened in 1922. However, there was no station located on the viaduct itself until Science Park station opened on August 20, 1955.
The station was closed from June 25, 2004 to February 12, 2005, while the Causeway Street Elevated was replaced by a new tunnel under TD Garden. On January 21, 2009, station signage was changed to read "Science Park/West End", though MBTA maps continued to used the shorter name.
A footbridge originally crossed the west side of Leverett Circle and connected to the fare mezzanine of the station. The bridge was removed in 2005 as part of Big Dig construction, though the state promised to replace it. In 2016, MassDOT began designing a replacement bridge.
On April 30, 2011, Science Park and stations were closed for a complete renovation of Science Park station. The elevated platforms were rebuilt, and elevators were added to make the station accessible. The platform level was raised slightly to allow level boarding on low-floor Type 8 trams, while ramps were added to allow wheelchair boarding on older high-floor Type 7 trams. By closing the station during construction, the renovations were completed 6 months ahead of the original schedule. While both stations were closed, the MBTA operated a free shuttle bus service connecting them to. Science Park station was reopened and regular service between Lechmere and North Station resumed on November 5, 2011.
Only the E branch has served Science Park since service resumed after the 2004–05 closure. On May 24, 2020, service between North Station and Lechmere was temporarily replaced with shuttle buses due to Green Line Extension construction. The station will reopen in 2021 with E branch service to and D branch service to.