The closure and consolidation plans come as part of the MBTA's ongoing quest to make Brookline's street-level Green Line stops fully accessible.
A ride through Brookline on the Green Line may take (slightly) less time in the future as the MBTA moves forward with plans to reduce the number of C Branch stops by two within the next couple years.
The closure and consolidation plans come as part of the MBTA's ongoing quest to make Brookline's street-level Green Line stops fully accessible. The T offered further details on the project in a proposed environmental impact report published earlier this week, as first reported by StreetsBlog.
The plans call for the closure of Kent Street Station, as well as the consolidation of Fairbanks Street and Brandon Hall into one stop between the existing stations, complete with an accessible, covered ramp. As is, Kent Street is about a five-minute walk in either direction from the nearest stops, and it generally takes only a few minutes to get between Brandon Hall and Fairbanks Street on foot.
Green Line riders may recall a similar effort to consolidate stops on the B branch a few years back. Fewer stops means faster trips for riders; according to the report, the new C Branch changes will allow the T to cut average passenger travel times by about 31 seconds for the eastbound morning rush and around 54 seconds for the westbound afternoon rush.
Several other stations along Beacon Street are also slated for accessibility upgrades, which include widening and raising platforms to make them level with train floors, constructing sloped walkways and egresses, installing wayfinding and lighting, and repainting pedestrian track crossings.
The T says it's aiming to begin construction in late 2025 or early 2026 and have most of the work completed in about a year. Short-term station closures might be required during construction, but shuttle buses would replace regular C Branch service during any temporary disruptions, per the report.
The MBTA has been meeting regularly with Brookline officials and has also held a series of public meetings throughout the year to go over the project and solicit feedback, according to the report. Community members will get another chance to hear from the MBTA during a public meeting at Brookline Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 15.