By Jackson Chadwick
Daily riders of the Commuter Rail will soon get used to seeing construction and renovations in, and above, South Station.
Construction started this January on a 51-story tower on top of the current transportation center, estimated to be completed by 2025. Hines, a development firm based in the Houston area, secured a nearly $900 million loan to build the tower, which, when completed, will be 678-feet tall and hold office and residential spaces.
A rendering of the tower | Hines
In concurrence with the construction project, structural improvements will also be made to South Station, including an expansion of the bus terminal, scheduled to be completed by July of 2022. The outdoor concourse by the train platform will be expanded by 67% to ease congestion. Smaller improvements will be made, including to existing stairways and escalators as well as elevators.
A rendering of the proposed outdoor concourse adjacent to the train terminal | Hines
The MBTA, which has faced scrutiny the past year amid train derailments and internal issues, is advising riders to be prepared. Some of South Station’s entrances and exits will temporarily be closed as construction and renovations occur. MBTA bus riders should also be advised. The South Station stop for routes 4, 7, and 11 will eventually be relocated “to an area next to the main entrance of South Station. There are no projected disruptions to the Red or Silver Lines, but T riders should still be wary.
Across Boston, renovations are still being made on the Orange Line. Weekend service between the Sullivan Square and Tufts Medical Center stations will be halted for several weekends. Shuttle buses will replace regular service. More information can be found here.