Boston University Central (MBTA station)

BOSTON UNIV. CENTRAL
An inbound train and route 57 bus at BU Central in April 2013
Location	Commonwealth Avenue at St. Marys Street Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°21′00″N 71°06′24″W / 42.34989°N 71.106804°W / 42.34989; -71.106804Coordinates: 42°21′00″N 71°06′24″W / 42.34989°N 71.106804°W / 42.34989; -71.106804
Owned by	MBTA
Line(s)	Green Line– "B" Branch
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	MBTA Bus: CT2, 47, 57, 57A
Construction
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	1894
Rebuilt	March 18, 2002 - November 18, 2003
Traffic
Passengers (2011)	2,194 (weekday average boardings)
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station Boston University West toward Boston College Green Line "B" Branch Boston University East toward Park Street   Former services   Boston University West toward Watertown Green Line "A" Branch Closed 1969 Boston University East toward Park Street

Boston University Central is a surface-level light rail station on the MBTA Green Line "B" Branch, located the center median of Commonwealth Avenue west of St. Marys Street in Boston, Massachusetts, surrounded by the Boston University campus. It consists of two side platforms, which serve the "B" Branch's two tracks.

The station is fully handicapped-accessible, with raised platforms to allow level boarding onto low-floor trams and a high platform on the inbound side to serve high-floor trams. Boston University Central is one of only five surface stations on the "B" branch that is handicapped-accessible (the others are Boston University East, Harvard Avenue, Washington Street, and the branch's terminus at Boston College).

The station has the third-highest ridership on the "B" Branch (after only Harvard Avenue and Packards Corner). Because of their high ridership, Boston University East and Boston University Central were rebuilt with slightly raised platforms in 2002-03 to allow level boarding onto the new Type 8 trams. Service was provided to an interim station with temporary platforms between the two stops during construction. Construction began on March 18, 2002, a week behind schedule due to delays in finishing up similar work at Harvard Avenue and Washington Street. The project was then expected to be completed within six months.

However, poor weather and limited work periods (as most work could only be done during the four hours at night that no trains used the line) delayed the completion date first to December 2002, then March 2003. The contractor informed the MBTA in early 2003 that they would be unable to complete the work; a new contractor was chosen in mid-2003, but work did not resume until September. The stations were completed and reopened on November 18, 2003.

Four MBTA Bus routes have connections near the station: