The MBTA has plans to shut down the Government Center Station on City Hall Plaza for two years starting in the fall of 2013 in order to improve the infrastructure. And, as always, riders are less than enthused.
“Epic Fail,” “Yowza” and a collective “ugh” were the most-used reactions on social media sites when the story about the closure broke over the weekend.
But updating the station, which will cost roughly $90 million and bring the MBTA into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, in the end, is meant to improve convenience for T riders, not hinder it.
According to the T’s website, The Government Center Station Improvements Project will include fixes to both the Blue and Green Line platforms, a new “headhouse” structure that looks a lot like the entrance to New York City’s Apple store, and more elevators, escalators and LED signage.
“Additional vendor retail space will be provided on both Green Line and Blue Line platforms. A security protection and monitoring system will be installed at all levels and in the vicinity of the headhouse,” according to the MBTA.
The construction, while exciting, will unfortunately shutter access to the tracks for 24-months starting in late summer or early fall of 2013.
Buses will be provided to those who need them, shuttling customers to and from their necessary stops. Trains will still pass through the station during the construction period, however, they will no longer stop at Government Center while the work is being completed.
According to the T, Government Center sees more than 11,000 customers on weekdays.
The stations is scheduled to be completely finished by the second quarter of 2016, according to the T’s website.
A public hearing about the proposed project is being held on December 12, T officials said.
Fingers crossed this means the Dunkin’ Donuts inside the station will starting selling Turbo shots, and maybe the T will throw some elbow-grease on the tracks to ditch the shriek from the trains that sounds exactly like the T-Rex from “Jurassic Park.”
Below are some photos of the station and what it could end up looking like when you take the T from outside City Hall.
