MBTA Celebrates Accessibility Improvements at Franklin Station
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
MBTA officials celebrate Franklin Station accessibility improvements.
MBTA
FRANKLIN, Mass. - MBTA's Franklin Station has been upgraded with accessibility improvements.
MBTA officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the upgrades made at Franklin Station along the Franklin/Foxboro Commuter Rail Line. The station previously reopened in March 2025 officially. During the project, crews worked to make sure passengers experienced “stair-free, level-boarding.” To achieve this, the MBTA designed and installed a freestanding mini-platform on top of the original structure. The design has been utilized at other stations, including Walpole, West Medford, and Wellesley stations.
Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said, “Accessibility is essential for so many that want and need to use public transportation. I am proud of the teams across MBTA for continuing to deliver these projects making it easier for everyone to use Commuter Rail. .. Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we are committed to deliver meaningful projects like this one in Franklin. There are more commuter rail stations accessible today than ever in MBTA history, and we’re not done yet.”
“Along with the new accessible mini-high platform, crews installed new lighting, signage, electronic message boards with audio, a new canopy, tactile warning strips, benches, and trash receptacles,” said MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan. “We also repaved the parking lot and relocated the accessible spaces right next to the ramp, significantly increasing the number of spaces from three to seven. This substantial expansion of accessible parking demonstrates our strong commitment to accessibility and ensures that more riders with disabilities can easily access the station. Together, these improvements make Franklin Station safer, easier to use, and available to every rider.”
Additionally, the station is within walking distance to the new Children’s Museum of Franklin. Its nearby presence “underscores a critical role in providing accessible commuter rail access.”
