Kenmore (MBTA station)

KENMORE
Buses at Kenmore station in April 2016
Location	500 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°20′56.13″N 71°5′44.19″W / 42.3489250°N 71.0956083°W / 42.3489250; -71.0956083Coordinates: 42°20′56.13″N 71°5′44.19″W / 42.3489250°N 71.0956083°W / 42.3489250; -71.0956083
Owned by	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Line(s)	Green Line "B," "C," and "D" branches
Platforms	2 island platforms
Tracks	4
Construction
Bicycle facilities	8 spaces
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	October 23, 1932
Rebuilt	2005-2010
Traffic
Passengers (2011)	9,053 (weekday average boardings)
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station Blandford Street toward Boston College Green Line "B" Branch Hynes Convention Center toward Park Street Fenway toward Riverside Green Line "D" Branch Hynes Convention Center toward Government Center St. Marys Street toward Cleveland Circle Green Line "C" Branch Hynes Convention Center toward North Station   Former service   Blandford Street toward Watertown Green Line "A" Branch discontinued 1969 Hynes Convention Center toward Park Street

Kenmore is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line, located under Kenmore Square in the Fenway/Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The station opened on October 23, 1932 as a one-station extension of the Boylston Street Subway to relieve congestion in the square.

Kenmore is the primary station for passengers wishing to go to Fenway Park, located just one block away. However, some sports fans exit at Fenway station despite its longer distance from the stadium, bypassing congestion in Kenmore Square.

The station opened on October 23, 1932, replacing the former Kenmore Incline, whose portal archway can still be seen east of Kenmore Square. The Commonwealth Avenue (B) and Beacon Street (C) services were routed through the station from its opening day. Until its shutdown in 1969, the Green Line "A" Branch to Watertown Square shared the B branch tracks, running along Commonwealth Avenue to Packard's Corner, where it branched off onto Brighton Avenue. Green Line service on the Highland Branch ("D" Branch) began on July 4, 1959.

The station was closed for two months in 1996, after the Muddy River overflowed its banks, completely submerging the platform and some of the mezzanine. During the closure, substitute service was provided by commuter rail trains between Riverside and South Station. A similar flood previously occurred on October 6, 1962, requiring closure of the station for five days.

Until January 1, 2007, Kenmore was the last Green Line station heading outbound where passengers were required to pay a fare upon boarding, and boarding outbound trains at surface stops was free. It was for this reason that fans going home from the game to the Newton Highlands region (serviced by the D Branch) were advised to use the Fenway stop.