LYNN — The city’s commuter rail station will close on Oct. 1 to address potential station deterioration issues, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced Friday.
The MBTA had previously intended to close the station on July 25, but postponed the closure after pushback from local officials. In a statement announcing the closure, the MBTA said the move is part of an effort to take proactive measures to advance rider and employee safety by “completely rebuilding” the station.
In a reversal from its initial plan, the MBTA plans to offer a free shuttle bus from Lynn to Swampscott station until a temporary platform is built. Swampscott, a Zone 3 station, will offer Zone 2 fares for riders coming from the Lynn station.
“During the closure of the Lynn station, I want to assure riders that alternate travel options will be available. Bus Routes 441/442 and 455 connect to Wonderland for Blue Line subway service. Additionally, a shuttle bus will operate between Lynn and Swampscott for riders who would like to board at Swampscott,,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak in a statement. “I want to thank our Lynn riders and the Lynn community for their continued patience as we make these critical upgrades, investments and improvements at the station.”
The MBTA had initially drawn sharp criticism from local officials on the decision to close the station without a viable alternate transportation option in place.
In a joint statement, Mayor Jared Nicholson, Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), Rep. Peter Capano (D-Lynn), and Rep. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn), said they will continue to work with the MBTA on ensuring that Lynn commuters get the service they need.
“Safety continues to be our top priority and multiple issues cited by the MBTA have made this closure necessary,” the statement said. “We also understand the stress and inconvenience this puts on each resident and rider of the commuter rail. With these burdens in mind, we have worked with the MBTA to ensure that proper mitigation will be offered to Lynn residents.”
“This is a large reconstruction project that is anticipated to last at least three years. We will continue to work with the MBTA to ensure service disruptions are as minimal as possible and that Lynn gets the station we need for our future,” the statement continued.
A public meeting will be held to discuss the work to be accomplished and details of the station closure as part of the MBTA’s outreach and community engagement efforts.
The decision to close the station was prompted by safety concerns about deteriorating conditions of it. The new station will include a new high-level center-island platform and canopy; accessibility upgrades, including new ADA-compliant elevators at both ends of the platform; new stairs and ramp, signage, and wayfinding improvements; track improvements; and other associated infrastructure improvements.
The MBTA has allocated $72.5 million to the project in its FY23-27 Capital Investment Plan. It has not yet announced a specific timeframe for the duration of the closure, and said details will be shared once the design phase for the project is completed.Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
