LYNN — The city’s temporary Commuter Rail station platform is now expected to open in December.
In a press conference at the future site of the interim platform next to the Ellis Street parking lot Wednesday, MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng was joined by state and local leaders.
“I came here in June and had the opportunity to see the conditions of the existing station that was closed and talk to the community and everyone about the need,” Eng said. “I went back to the team and challenged them that there are different ways of doing this… and as you can see, we’ll be nine months ahead of schedule.”
Eng said that the planned opening in December is well ahead of the originally anticipated opening in September 2024.
“We’re well on our way to construction of this temporary platform and station for the Lynn commuters and the riders that want to use this Commuter Rail system,” Eng said. “We know that Commuter Rail service can’t return fast enough to this community and we’re pleased that we’re able to accelerate this work.”
According to Eng, all trains on the Rockport and Newburyport lines will stop at the station when the platform is completed, something he said will strengthen the community’s access to Boston and the neighboring communities of Lynn.
Members of the city’s state delegation were in attendance, including state Sen. Brendan Crighton, who serves as chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation.
“We’re committed to the residents of Lynn to make sure that transportation and public transit is accessible, reliable, and affordable for all that wish to ride it,” Crighton said.
Crighton credited the work of Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll’s administration, as well as Eng for the expedited construction timelines.
State Rep. Peter Capano also praised the work of Eng and the Healey-Driscoll administration, adding in his remarks that he was excited to see the MBTA take action toward better serving the commuters of the city and the region.
“We’re not meeting now to justify our existence, we’re meeting to see how we can move things forward in the future,” Capano, who also serves on the Joint Committee on Transportation, said. “If this is any indication of things to come, the future looks pretty bright.”
Mayor Jared Nicholson praised the work of the delegation for its advocacy and collaboration with the state Department of Transportation and MBTA to make the restoration of service in Lynn a priority.
“This is an exciting day,” Nicholson said. “The train will stop again in Lynn as it should… This kind of work and collaboration gives me confidence that we will continue to do that work.”
MBTA Board Director Thomas McGee, who is a former Lynn mayor, and Acting Secretary and CEO of MassDOT Monica Tibbits-Nutt were also in attendance.
“This is a great day for Lynn to see this project moving forward much more quickly than planned,” McGee said. “A lot of people came together and understood the importance of transportation for this community.”
Mock-ups of the planned temporary platform shown at the event displayed new lighting, a shelter, and digital information signs.
MBTA Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green, who is from Lynn, was also at the event and said the temporary platform and the old station and garage will all receive regular security checks each day.
As for the future of the Commuter Rail in Lynn, Eng noted that there will continue to be a dialogue between the MBTA and Lynn leaders to ensure there is a long-term solution that works for the community.
“The temporary platform was vital to being able to first restore Commuter Rail service to Lynn,” Eng said.
The city’s Commuter Rail station has been shut down since Oct. 1, 2022 for a $72 million renovation project. The entire renovation is currently expected to be completed in 2030.
In the meantime, the T has offered shuttle busing between Lynn and Swampscott’s Commuter Rail station, as well as ferry service on the Ava Pearl between Lynn’s Blossom Street Pier and Boston’s Long Wharf. The shuttle busing is expected to continue until the temporary platform’s opening, while the ferry service, which began in late June, will run until Oct. 31 before resuming sometime next year.
