Category: Massachusetts

Alrighty, the penultimate Red Line station! So, Central was meh and Kendall is pretty good, with Porter and Alewife holding their own as well, where does Davis fall? Let’s take a look at it.

So, the platform feels a little dark, but it doesn’t at least suffer from Back Bay syndrome as there’s LED lights everywhere. Furthermore, they have hostile benches and wastebaskets, and HISTORY can be found down here along with art! Neat! Going up the elevator (no piss!), the mezzanine is better-lit, and restrooms can be found here! And, yes, they were unlocked. Unfortunately, however…

Yeah. The headhouses are alright, though (of which there’s two), and there’s also some green space nearby! Furthermore, Davis Square itself seems to be an up and coming area in the region, so there’s that. Never mind that, Tufts University is sorta close by! (even noted on the #3’s announcements) However, the nearest piece of Tufts property is still a 15 minute walk away. Fortunately for them, the GLX solves that problem, but the connection from the Red Line is still nice to have and to note, even though it’s a hike.

The good: Well, Davis Square blew up in popularity in recent years! There’s also art around, plenty of bike racks, and even history! Furthermore, there’s a bit of common space outside around the station itself that was pretty lively, although some guy did harass me out here.

The bad: It feels a little dated and is a little dingy! Also, the bathroom is sketchy. The elevators also don’t inspire confidence.

Nearby points of interest: Davis Square has a few things of interest: For one, you have a historical theater still in use, plenty of shopping, restaurants, and green space! Tufts is also close by, but the Green Line station is considerably closer.

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont, Braintree)
MBTA bus (87, 88, 89, 90, 94, 96)

Overall, I like the area. However, while the area seems like an interesting place and is up and coming, the station could really use a facelift, despite their efforts to light up the platforms. Either way, it’s not the worst station on the Red Line.

Rating: 7.5/10

Welcome to Central Square! Wait, this isn’t the same as “Cambridge Center”, which is in Kendall Square? Goddammit. I feel bamboozled. Bah, whatever, let’s look at Central Square!

The platforms at Central are pretty normal, nothing special unlike at Kendall. You have benches, a couple of mezzanine areas, and one side (at least) has restrooms as well! Unfortunately, though, said restroom was locked. That was sad, but probably for the better as odds are it’s a complete shitshow (figuratively). The mezzanines are also small, but correspond to the three entrances on each side. One of them are stairs, like your stereotypical NYC subway entrances, with the other two being an escalator and an elevator. This setup also means there’s no free crossovers. And, with Kendall also lacking crossovers, that means if you get on the inbound side in error, you have to ride all the way to Charles/MGH to change sides for free. Yikes! Fortunately, if you’re on the outbound side, Harvard has free crossovers, so it’s no issue. As for Central Square itself, it seems like an interesting place, with an art supply store being nearby along with City Hall.

The good: It’s more colorful than usual! Although, I did find it weird how one end was essentially blue – on a Red Line station. It’s also pretty close to City Hall and is also one of the most-used stations on the Red Line!

The bad: Eh, it feels dated and there’s no crossovers. Furthermore, this is amplified by Kendall ALSO not having free crossovers, so fuck you, return to Charles! Also, there’s no busway but whatever.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a few shops and businesses lining Massachusetts Avenue! Among a few being art supply stores! Also, City Hall is nearby!

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont, Braintree)
MBTA bus (1, 47, 64, 70, 83, 91)

Overall, yeah, this ain’t the best one, and it’s probably the worst station on the northern Red Line. Sorry, but also not sorry!

Rating: 4/10

Alrighty, so now the first stop north of the Charles on the Red Line! So, how is Kendall/MIT? Let’s find out.

So, the platforms are alright enough. Yeah, they feel slightly dingy, but it’s not that bad. However, the mezzanines (yes, there’s two – no free crossovers!) are immediately next to the platform, rendering this a “screw you” station if you’re cutting it close. Of course, you have benches and whatnot, however Kendall also has something that most other stations don’t: some toys to play with!

So, I start swinging the lever. “You gotta go a little harder!” a passerby said, so I did, and then he mentioned to look behind and that’s when I noticed the hammers were swinging as I was swinging the lever. Cool! I think there’s supposed to be some kind of music with windchimes, but I don’t think it was working correctly. Here’s a video that demos it, though! As for the headhouses, they correspond to each platform, so go in the right way! The inbound headhouse is also much newer, having just opened within the last month (as of me writing this), and I’m sure the outbound headhouse is set to get a similar facelift.

Walking up about a quarter-mile, brings us to Kendall’s other crowned jewel. However, it’s more a rite of passage for Boston-area railfans, as it’s the Grand Junction used for nonrevenue equipment moves between the northside and southside lines. Sadly, no trains came by. Buses pretty much dump off on the street next to the station.

The good: It’s located in the heart of Kendall Square on MIT’s campus! Furthermore, you got the Band, which is cool. Also, the Grand Junction is a short walk away for railfans, and you have a couple of bus connections. And, despite being mostly built in the ’80s, the interior looks pretty nice.

The bad: No free crossovers!

Nearby points of interest: MIT’s campus, the Grand Junction, and a lot of businesses that seem to primarily cater to the significant college population.

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont, Braintree)
MBTA bus (64, 68, 85)

Overall, I like this station, and while it’s no Wollaston, it’s still one of my personal favorites on the Red Line, and is probably my favorite on the Charles-Alewife stretch. Sadly, it’s no 10/10, but it still gets a high score.

Rating: 9/10

Ah, NOW we’re at the Red Line’s least-used station! Wait, oh no…

So, the platforms are kinda small, to start with. But, at least there’s the usual amenities one would expect, along with elevator access from both Savin Hill Ave. and Sydney Street. Furthermore, only Ashmont trains stop here, with Braintree trains (ideally) whizzing past, and the Old Colony trains roaring past at 50mph. The walkway is fully glass too, which is nice, and even indoor waiting. Neat! Actually, this entire station feels modern! When was it remodelled?

*googles*

2005?! Holy crap! This feels more akin to a mid 2010s station ala Assembly, not 2005! Whelp, another point for Savin Hill! Oh yeah, there’s also parking.

The good: It’s modern! You also have plenty of parking (which, it’s a residential area, you shouldn’t need much), and the mezzanine areas are well-lit from sunlight alone due to being glass. It’s also alright for railfanning the Old Colony Lines, I guess.

The bad: Ehhhhhh, signage would be nice on Savin Hill Ave. Actually, same with Sydney St. as well, for that matter. The platforms also feel small.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a few restaurants and parks nearby!

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont)

Overall, it’s an alright station. Yeah, it’s not the best, but it’s serviceable and isn’t a major safety hazard or anything. As a fun aside, it’s the least-used Red Line station as well! Neat!

Rating: 7/10

Next stop up, sandwiched between two relatively quiet stations, is Fields Corner! Fields Corner is the terminus for a couple bus routes, and it’s elevated! Neat! Let’s look.

So, the platforms are your standard Red Line affair of benches, wastebaskets, and signage. Furthermore, it’s completely sheltered, and you can even see a busway from the inbound platform! Neat! A few buses terminate or run through here, mostly to Quincy. Also, I’m not exactly sure why, but why does the busway not go out to Dorchester Avenue, requiring a maneuver to Geneva Ave.? Weird, but whatever. The mezzanine was also pretty fancy, and the lighting even had some red accents to go along with the Red Line theming. Neat! I also generally like how it’s elevated overall, since they’re a rarity on the MBTA. As another nice touch, you have an old-school sign pointing to the station on Dorchester Avenue! Just uhhh, be careful with the stairs if you’re walking up them.

The good: It’s elevated and stands out as such! Also, the old sign, the sheltering on the platform, and the mezzanine in general are all nice!

The bad: The busway seems inefficient. Also, the stairs are a tripping hazard with inconsistent sizing! I almost fell here!

Nearby points of interest: You got Dorchester and Geneva Avenues, and their associated businesses!

Transit connection: Red Line, MBTA bus (15, 17, 18, 19, 201, 202, 210, 215)

Overall, I like this station, however, those stairs are a tad bit problematic. The busway setup is also annoying, but aside from those it’s decent enough.

Rating: 6.5/10

Now, this ain’t no Ashmont. That much is clear. However, what does a subway station in a sleepy residential neighborhood, possibly also the closest thing to a Red Line’s Green Street, have? Let’s see.

First off, I would say this is the least-used Red Line station, but I’d be full of shit despite how quiet the station is. However, it’s definitely up there. The platforms are ugly with the choice of coloring (really, off-beige to piss yellow???). However, it has your standard bench and wastebasket affair, and the fact it’s underground doesn’t disturb the peaceful neighborhood above. Neat!

The mezzanine is alright enough, a bit generic but there’s enough natural light. As for the headhouse, it’s original to the station. It’s so old, in fact, it’s not even in red! Woah! There’s also a Bluebike rack outside, so there’s that. And the elevators? They don’t reek of piss!

The good: It’s in a sleepy neighborhood, has Bluebikes, and the mezzanine is well-lit! Also, the elevators don’t reek of urine!

The bad: Eh, the platforms feel dated despite the relatively recent (2009!) renovations.

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot, being in the middle of Dorchester’s residential side streets.

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont)

Overall, it’s a pretty good station. Yeah, it feels dated and it’s one of those “you’ll only really use it if you live by here” stations, but it’s still pretty good at the end of the day, and it’s far from the worst place to wait 20+ minutes (if need be).

Rating: 8/10

And now, the last Mattapan Line station! Well, how bad is it? It’s…..actually alright. It’s no Bowdoin, Harvard, Malden Center, or Fenway, but it holds up pretty well at least!

And yes, it’s the same as usual. Shelter, benches, wastebaskets on the Ashmont platform. Mattapan platform lacks shelters, and both sides have mini-highs for accessibility. Yeah, not a lot here. However, you can at the least get a few nice shots of PCCs cresting the incline to Ashmont. Neat!

The good: It’s quiet! Furthermore, there’s bus connections (if you walk a little) as well!

The bad: Eh, most people are probably going to use Ashmont. But also, add a shelter on the Mattapan platform!!!

Nearby points of interest: Eh, not much.

Transit connections:
Mattapan Line
MBTA bus (215, at Gallivan Blvd.)

Overall, it’s a good station. Yeah, sorry, not a lot to note on this one, but at least we end on a good note.

Rating: 7.5/10

Ah, Butler! Well, I’ve never had to be admitted to Butler, but I know a couple of people who had to be admitted, as recent as last week actually-

Oh, not that Butler? You mean it’s a street in Dorchester? Oh, well shit. Uhh, here, I guess.

So, for once we have an ISLAND platform! Woooo, something new! It’s sheltered too with a bench! YAY!!!! FINALLY BOTH SIDES GET A BENCH!!! There’s also a mini-high, so there’s that as well. Overall, there’s still not a lot to it. There’s parking! And now, to walk to Cedar Grove!

The good: It’s the same as usual, quiet, and it also has parking!

The bad: Left-hand boarding, and you have to walk to the front of the train awkwardly to pay.

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot here, sadly.

Transit connections:
Mattapan Line

Overall, meh, nothing to really say about this station either. At least it’s alright! Onwards to Cedar Grove!

Rating: 7/10

Oh boy, a grade-separated station! I can’t wait to check this one out!

So, of course, we’re in an urban area, like with Central Ave. Normally there’s a set of stairs heading down to the Ashmont platform, however they were bulldozed when I was here (about 2 weeks prior!). Gee, thanks! That meant I had to go the longabout way to get onto the platform. And, when I did, it’s pretty much your standard Mattapan Line affair. You have shelters, benches, and wastebaskets. And, finally, benches under the shelter! YAY!

The good: It’s urbanized, and the area is nice! There’s also a bus connection as well!

The bad: The Mattapan platform should have a shelter!

Nearby points of interest: A few businesses!

Transit connections:
Mattapan Line
MBTA bus (217)

Overall, yeah I got nothing further to add. It’s a decent station.

Rating: 8/10

Ah, density is nice. Well, welcome back to an area that isn’t suburban hell. Either way, let’s look at Central Ave.! How does it compare? Who knows. Let’s look, I guess.

WHY IS THERE A GRADE CROSSING HERE?! I mean, I guess it’s alright enough given the relative infrequency of the Mattapan Line with only three PCCs ever being in service at any given time (out of 5), but still it’s hella busier than Capen Street and most DEFINITELY busier than Valley Road! As for the station itself, it’s pretty much the same deal as the others: shelters, benches, wastebaskets, and mini-highs. Except, all those amenities are on the MATTAPAN side! WHY?!

The good: It looks pretty when the area is green! It’s also got some semblance of density around the area, which I presume means ridership is in the realm of three significant figures! Also, BAT stops nearby!

The bad: The grade crossing feels a little dangerous! I saw a car almost hit a PCC! Yikes! AND WHY IS THERE NO SEATING ON THE ASHMONT PLATFORM?!

Nearby points of interest: I’m sure there’s a few businesses, but I didn’t find anything interesting.

Transit connections:
Mattapan Line
MBTA bus (240)
BAT (12)

Yeah, nothing else to add. But, this station kinda sucks.

Rating: 3/10