Lechmere
The new Lechmere MBTA Station consists of an elevated island platform on a concrete viaduct across O’Brien Highway (MA Highway 28) from the original ground-level platform and station area. This original station has been fully demolished and is being redeveloped. The new station was built as part of the Green Line Extension Project Somerville and Medford. The new station opened on March 21, 2022. The station is largely on the location of the former Lechmere Park & Ride lot with the new station having no automobile parking. The modern concrete viaduct transitions onto the historic Lechmere Viaduct one block south of the station above Charlestown Avenue.
The modern island platform is fully canopied for its entire length with simple grey canopy structures except at its extreme ends where station’s two entrances are. This means there is no fully covered enter the station and get on a train under cover. The southern entrance leads down to a single staircase and elevator to the south side of East Street, a bicycle parcade – branded and a Pedal and Park is in this area.
The northern entrance contains a single staircase along two elevators (go redundant elevators!) down to multiple entrances openings (rolling gates can be closed when the station is closed) on the north side of First Street. This entrance leads both to the north side of first street, and to a small plaza walkway to a separate bank of additional CVM (Charlie Vending Machines) to the station’s new bus loop. This bus loop is a more simple (no more neat brick building) loop off of Water Street and used by the multiple bus routes that service the station.
The artwork at the station consists of Field Notes by Randal Thurston. Images depict leaves in nature in the surrounding area forming silhouettes. These consist of what look like laminated glass providing shadows around the station’s elevator shafts, and on some panels along the station platform under station name signs.
Photos 1-24: August 4, 2021; 25-52: June 21, 2024
Union Square
East Somerville