MBTA opens new privately-funded Boston Landing rail station

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on May 17 joined MBTA Chief Administrator, Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve, Chairman of New Balance Athletics Jim Davis, and a host of dignitaries to cut the ribbon on the new MBTA Boston Landing Commuter Rail Station.

Construction of the $20-million project on the site of the former Brighton Landing station was privately funded by footwear manufacturer New Balance, which has its global headquarters adjacent to the station. The company will also fund all maintenance for the station, on the Framingham/Worcester Line, for 10 years.

The station, which brings commuter rail service back to the Allston-Brighton for the first time since the 1960s, will open to commuters May 22.

The station features a high-level, canopied single platform centered between the eastbound and westbound tracks as well as accessible elevators and ramps.

Construction of the station began in October 2015, and comes as part of the 15-acre, 2.15-million square-foot Boston Landing Development site, MBTA said. At full build-out the site will include new office, lab, retail, restaurant and open space, a 295-unit mixed-use residential complex, a 175-room hotel and the practice facilities of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics. Significant improvements to local public roadway and infrastructure are also planned.