South Station (MBTA station)

SOUTH STATION SOUTH STATION
A southbound Red Line train at South Station in December 2016
Location	Atlantic Avenue & Summer Street Boston, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°21′09″N 71°03′19″W / 42.35261°N 71.05536°W / 42.35261; -71.05536Coordinates: 42°21′09″N 71°03′19″W / 42.35261°N 71.05536°W / 42.35261; -71.05536
Owned by	MBTA
Line(s)	Red Line   Silver Line
Platforms	2 side platforms (Red Line) 2 side platforms (Silver Line tunnel) 1 side platform (Silver Line street level)
Tracks	2 (Red Line)
Connections	MBTA Bus: 4, 7, 11, 448, 449, 459 MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak at South Station Intercity buses at South Station Bus Terminal
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Bicycle facilities	"Pedal and Park" bicycle cage
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	August 22, 1901 (Atlantic Avenue Elevated) December 3, 1916 (Red Line) December 17, 2004 (Silver Line)
Closed	September 30, 1938 (Atlantic Avenue Elevated)
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	25,037 (weekday average boardings)
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station Downtown Crossing toward Alewife Red Line Broadway toward Ashmont or Braintree Terminus Silver Line SL1 Courthouse toward Logan Airport Silver Line SL2 Courthouse toward Design Center Chinatown One-way operation Silver Line SL4 Terminus Tufts Medical Center toward Dudley Square   Future services   Terminus Silver Line SL6 Opening 2017 Courthouse toward Chelsea   Former services   MBTA Terminus Silver Line SL3 Closed 2009 Courthouse toward City Point Boston Elevated Railway Terminus Atlantic Avenue Elevated Closed 1938 Rowes Wharf toward North Station Dover toward Dudley Atlantic Avenue Elevated Rush hours only Closed 1938

South Station (also signed as South Station Under) is a transfer station on the MBTA rapid transit Red Line and bus rapid transit Silver Line, located at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is a part of the South Station complex, the second busiest transportation center in New England. Eight MBTA Commuter Rail and three Amtrak intercity rail services terminate at South Station; many of those passengers then transfer to the subway to reach other destinations in the city. With 25,037 daily boardings by a 2013 passenger count, South Station is the busiest station on the MBTA subway system.

A station serving South Station was located on the Atlantic Avenue Elevated. Service on the Atlantic Avenue "El" was discontinued on September 20, 1938. The structure itself was torn down in the spring of 1942. Before stairs were added, passengers wishing to change lines from the underground station — itself opened on December 3, 1916 — had to use a paper transfer and go outside to change trains.

In 1957, the original fare lobby and the rounded top of the tunnel to the west were removed during construction of the Dewey Square Tunnel. The tunnel was rebuilt with a flat ceiling, while the fare lobby was moved to the east closer to the South Station headhouse.

A second renovation began around 1980 and consisted of the adding of a passageway to already existing stairs and escalators upstairs to the main terminal building. An entrance was also added to the Federal Archives Building as well as a passageway under Summer Street connecting the other street entrances. In 1985, the Red Line platforms were extended 60 feet on either end to allow 6-car trains.

The final renovation was triggered by the massive highway project known as the "Big Dig". Since the Red Line tunnel beneath Summer Street is perpendicular to Atlantic Avenue, where the new I-93 northbound tunnel was to be built, builders had to tunnel under the tracks. After the first tunnel was complete, another tunnel was added along with a station for the Silver Line. Since the new tunnel was built at the former fare level, another fare level was constructed a level above. This allowed combined access for the Silver and Red lines. The original lobby that was destroyed was replaced by stairways. This project was completed at a cost of 35 million dollars.