Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements
Due to safety concerns, Winchester Center station was closed for repairs in 2021. The station—which had not had a major update since the 1950s—was in a state of disrepair and did not meet current accessibility standards.
We are giving the station a complete renovation that will include structural repairs to improve safety, accessibility, and station capacity. We have demolished the old Winchester Center station and began construction. On-site preparation for construction began on March 28, 2022 and full construction began on June 30, 2022.
- Construction contract awarded: 2021
- Construction start: Spring 2022
- Projected completion: Partial Opening October 2024; Fully Open Winter 2024
- Budget: $50 million
- Status: Construction
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
Service Alerts
Partial Opening in October 2024
The south half of the newly renovated Winchester Center station will be open for use on October 1, 2024. Inbound and outbound Commuter Rail service on the Lowell Line will resume at Winchester Center. Construction on the north half of the station will continue until winter 2024.
If you are exiting the train at Winchester Center, be sure to ride in the first two cars of the train. If you need to exit the train at Winchester Center and are not in the first two cars and cannot travel to them, notify a conductor.
Fares at Winchester Center station are Zone 1 pricing. A standard one-way ticket is $6.50 and $3.25 at the reduced fare rate.
Learn more about Commuter Rail zones
Neighborhood Impacts
June 2024: Weekend Work Advisory
Construction will take place on weekends for the entire month of June. Work will include staging of concrete trucks, and granite stone, platform guardrail, and electrical installations.
View the construction advisory
December 26 – 29, 2023: Work and Traffic Advisory
Construction will take place on the Winchester Station bridge over Waterfield Road to install steel beams. There will be lane closures and intermittent traffic breaks.
View the construction advisory
December 2023: Weekend Work
Carpentry work will take place on the Winchester Station viaduct from 7 AM to 3 PM on the following dates:
- December 2
- December 9
- December 16
View the December construction advisory
November 2023: Weekend Work
On Saturday, November 18, carpentry work will take place on the Winchester Station viaduct from 7 AM to 3 PM. Work will occur within MBTA fencing. Intermittent flagging for pedestrian and vehicular traffic may be required for safety.
View the November 18 construction advisory
June 2022: Summer Construction
We began noticeable construction activity in June 2022. Construction advisories will be posted before any significant work takes place. Neighbors should expect increased noise and periods of vibration from heavy equipment and machinery during the early phases of work.
Learn more about the Winchester Center Station construction groundbreaking
March 2022: Construction Preparation
Preparations included surveys of the area, fence installation around the work site, placement of vibration monitors, and pest management, among other activities.
In April 2022, all parking at Laraway Road and directly adjacent to the station was removed. These parking areas will be not be available for the duration of construction.
Portions of Waterfield and Laraway lots will be unavailable during construction. Parking will be temporarily displaced on Waterfield Road, adjacent to Laraway Road, in order to accommodate a temporary crosswalk. There will also be occasional parking and traffic impacts at Waterfield Road during construction.
Project Features
To bring Winchester Center station up to date and make it accessible, we will install new high-level platforms that allow for easy boarding. The platforms will also accommodate longer, nine-car trains to increase station capacity. Additional updates include the following:
- Reconstructing access ramps and adding new elevators for better accessibility
- Upgrading canopies, signs, railings, and lighting for safety and security
- Adding benches, bike racks, a public address system, and other amenities for comfort and convenience
- Updating walkways, sidewalks, and parking lot areas
June 2024 Project Update (PDF)
Project Progress
Project Renderings
A rendering shows what the renovated Winchester Center station will look like when viewed from Winchester Common
A rendering shows how Quill Rotary outside Winchester Center station will look after station renovations, as viewed from Main Street
A rendering shows how Quill Rotary outside Winchester Center station will look after station renovations, as viewed from Mount Vernon Street
Past Events
Downloads
We invite you to review documents related to the Winchester Station Accessibility Improvements project. To view public meeting documents, please use the meeting links in the Past Events section above. You can find links to downloadable documents on the event pages.
Frequently Asked Questions (July 2024)
Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Update (October 4, 2023)
Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Update (Town of Winchester Select Board Meeting, March 6, 2023)
Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Update (October 24, 2022)
Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Update (March 28, 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions (Compiled from a public meeting held November 21, 2019)
Contact Us
For questions and comments related to Winchester Station Accessibility Improvements, email WinchesterStation@mbta.com.
For construction-related questions or concerns, call the construction hotline at 781-218-9717.
Recent Updates
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.