MBTA opens Assembly Orange Line Station

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) opened the Assembly Orange Line station, the first new MBTA station in 27 years, on September 2. MBTA said the station is a key element in the creation of a transit-oriented development at Assembly Row, providing a vital transit link between Assembly Row and Boston.

 

“We invest in infrastructure to increase private development, revitalize urban neighborhoods and bolster growth and opportunity across the commonwealth,” said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick at the grand opening ceremony. “The new Assembly Orange Line station is a concrete reminder of what can be achieved through public-private partnership and investment in our communities.”

Assembly is the first new MBTA subway station to be opened since the southern portion of the Orange Line was moved from the Washington Street Elevated Line to the Southwest Corridor in 1987. The Assembly station design includes a glass two-story entrance building at the corner of Foley and G Streets, with stairs, escalators and elevators leading to a glazed glass bridge crossing G Street and the inbound track. The bridge connects to another glass two-story building between the inbound and outbound tracks, where riders will pass through the fare array and travel down to platform level on another stair, escalator or elevators. The daily projected ridership at the Assembly station is expected to be between 4,800 and 5,400 passengers by 2030.

“A demand for enhanced access to transit, for smart development centered on transportation access and for livable, workable communities has been heard loud and clear by this administration,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Richard Davey. “The opening of the new Assembly station today is a direct response to that demand that will provide easy, affordable access to rapid transit in this new neighborhood of Somerville.”

The Assembly station was funded through a combination of federal, state and private investment. The total cost of the station is $56 million with the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development contributing $25 million through a MassWorks grant, $16 million in federal funds and a $15 million investment from Federal Realty Investment Trust, the developers of the Assembly Row project.

 

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