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MBTA outlines accessibility upgrades for Green Line C branch; Kent Street to close, platform work to continue
Summary
MBTA Systemwide Accessibility said nine C-branch stops are inaccessible and will be upgraded; Fairbanks and the nearby stop will be consolidated, Kent Street will be closed because it cannot be made accessible in place, and most platforms should be usable by the end of the calendar year with project completion next spring.
MBTA Systemwide Accessibility staff told RTAG members that major accessibility work is underway on the Green Line's C branch to address long-standing platform and boarding barriers.
"The C branch is the least accessible branch of the Green Line today," Laura Brailsford said, describing plans to make the B, C and A branches fully accessible over the coming years. She said nine stations on the C branch are currently inaccessible; two stops (Fairbanks and Brandeis/Roberts) will be consolidated into a single accessible station, while Kent Street will be closed because its current location cannot be made accessible. Most other stations will have platforms raised to 8 inches and widened to at least 7.5 feet to be compatible with existing trolley fleet and bridge plates.
Brailsford said many updated platforms will be usable by the end of the calendar year, though benches, shelters and some ancillary features may not be complete until the overarching project wraps up next spring. The agency also said adjacent sidewalks, curb ramps and crossings will be updated as part of the work.
MBTA staff encouraged riders to check project pages at mbta.com/accessibility-initiatives for updates and said field checks were ongoing as crews test platform bridge plates and measurements.
