Wonderland station
Wonderland | |||||||||||||
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Pedal and Park" bicycle cage | |||||||||||||
Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||
Opened | June 19, 1954[1] | ||||||||||||
Rebuilt | June 25, 1994–June 24, 1995[2] July 2008;[2] June 30, 2012[3] | ||||||||||||
Previous names | Bath House (BRB&L) | ||||||||||||
Passengers | |||||||||||||
FY2019 | 6,866 (weekday average boardings)[4] | ||||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||||
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Location | |||||||||||||
Wonderland station (officially the Wonderland Intermodal Transit Center) is a transit station in
A previous station, Bath House, was open near the site on the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad from approximately 1900 to 1940. Wonderland station opened in January 1954. It was rebuilt in 1995, repaired in 2008, and upgraded with a large parking garage and pedestrian bridge in 2012.
History
BRB&L
The
The Chelsea Beach Branch, which operated only during the summer, ended operations in 1891, although the rails remained in place until the 1920s.[6][7] In April 1897, the BRB&L was moved inland onto the modern right-of-way next to the abandoned Chelsea Beach Branch.[8] A new station, Bath House, was soon built on the east side of the tracks across from the new Revere Beach Bath House, just north of the modern station site.[9] By 1928 the line was electrified, with pre-pay stations - more a rapid transit line than a conventional railroad.[10] However, due to the Great Depression, the BRB&L shut down on January 27, 1940.[6]
M.T.A. and MBTA
In 1941, the
In 1947, the newly formed Metropolitan Transit Authority (M.T.A.) decided to build to Lynn as a rapid transit line, and construction began in October 1948.[8] The first part of the Revere Extension opened to Orient Heights in January 1952 and Suffolk Downs in April 1952; the second phase (cut short due to limited funds) opened to Wonderland on June 19, 1954, with intermediate stations at Beachmont and Revere Beach.[8][11][1] Wonderland was originally to be named Bath House after the former station, but instead was named after the now-closed Wonderland Greyhound Park, itself named after Wonderland Amusement Park, which operated at the site from 1906 to 1911.[12][13]
The Wonderland Blue Line terminus station has been in mostly continuous operation since 1954; however, service has been interrupted several times due to weather and construction. It was closed for flood damage from February 6 to March 13, 1978, after the Blizzard of 1978, and from June 24 to September 10, 1983, for track work between Wonderland and Orient Heights.[2] Modernization and platform lengthening work at Wonderland, which included ramps for accessibility, began in August 1988.[14] Wonderland was the third Blue Line station to be made accessible (after Suffolk Downs in 1984 and State eastbound in 1987).[15]
Wonderland was closed for approximately one year starting on June 25, 1994, as the station was rebuilt along with Suffolk Downs, Revere Beach and Beachmont stations as part of the Blue Line Modernization Program. Blue Line service temporarily ended at Orient Heights and buses served the closed stations during project.[16][2] Wonderland station was largely rebuilt at a cost of $9 million; it reopened along with the other stations on June 24, 1995.[17] The station was closed while additional platform repair work was performed from June 21 to July 3, 2008.[2][18] Wonderland station was the eponymous destination of the main characters 1998 film Next Stop Wonderland.[19][20]
Wonderland Intermodal Transit Center
As early as 1973, the MBTA proposed constructing a parking garage at Wonderland.
One of these projects was the Wonderland Intermodal Transit Center, included the 1465-space South Parking Garage as well as a new sheltered busway, bicycle storage, and improved pedestrian connections.[3][24] The environmental assessment for the project was completed in January 2010.[25]
Construction began in September 2010; the new garage and busway opened on June 30, 2012.[3][26] The $53.5 million project was partially funded by the 2009 Stimulus Act.[3] The MBTA began work on an elevated plaza at the station and a footbridge over Ocean Avenue to Revere Beach in September 2011.[27] The $20 million project, including the Christina and John Markey Memorial Pedestrian Bridge opened on July 4, 2013.[28][29]
In March 2012, the MBTA announced plans to place solar panels on the roof of the new South Garage. The panels were to be installed and maintained by an outside contractor.[30] A winning bidder was chosen in June 2012 and approved by the board in September, with expected completion by June 2013; however, the installation did not occur.[31]
Bus service
Wonderland opened with a busway on the eastern (Ocean Avenue) side of the station. It was initially served by trolleybus routes
The MBTA acquired the
Route 448 and 449 were created in 1997 as variations of routes 441 and 442, resulting in four routes that stopped outside Wonderland on North Shore Road. Beginning in June 1999, some weekday morning route
All buses serving Wonderland were diverted to the new busway in July 2012 except for inbound route 448 and 449 buses (which remained on North Shore Road) and westbound route 411 buses (on Ocean Avenue). All weekday service on routes 441, 442, and 455 was cut back from Haymarket to Wonderland; those routes dropped the W suffix. Some route
Proposed Lynn extension
Ever since the 1954 Revere extension was cut short to Wonderland, a further extension to Lynn has been planned. Various state and federal reports in 1966, 1969, 1973, 1978, and 1983 all recommended extensions of the Blue Line to Lynn or even
References
- ^ a b "Rapid Transit Line to Revere to Open June 19". Boston Globe. June 9, 1954. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
- ^ a b c d "Patrick-Murray Administration Celebrates Opening of Wonderland Intermodal Transit Center" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 30, 2012.
- ^ "A Guide to Ridership Data". MassDOT/MBTA Office of Performance Management and Innovation. June 22, 2020. p. 8.
- ^ a b Bradlee, Francis Boardman Crowninshield (1921). The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Narrow Gauge Railroad. Essex Institute. pp. 4–5 – via Google Books.
- ^ ISBN 0942147022.
- ISBN 9780942147117.
- ^ ISBN 9780738535760.
- ^ "Plan for Improvement of Ocean Avenue in City of Revere, Mass". Metropolitan Park Commission. 6 January 1916. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2015 – via WardMaps.
- ^ ""Narrow Gage" Electrified for Economy". Electric Railway Journal. 72 (23): 991–998. 8 December 1928. Retrieved 24 December 2015 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c Central Transportation Planning Staff (November 15, 1993). "The Transportation Plan for the Boston Region - Volume 2". National Transportation Library. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Boston Elevated Railway and Boston Department of Public Utilities (1945), Boston Rapid Transit System & Proposed Extensions 1945 - Metropolitan Transit Recess Commission Air View
- ^ "History Overview". RevereBeach.com. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Sanborn, George M. (1992). A Chronicle of the Boston Transit System. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019 – via Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- ^ MBTA : ACCESS; The Guide to Accessible Services and Facilities. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 1992. p. 15 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Blake, Andrew (March 20, 1994). "MBTA to begin $467 million Blue Line project". Boston Globe – via Newspapers.com. (second page)
- ^ Blake, Andrew (June 18, 1995). "Blue Line stations set to reopen after $467m upgrade". Boston Globe – via Newspapers.com. (second page)
- ^ "Blue Line Rehab Project To Begin" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 18, 2008.
- ^ "MGH makes cameo appearance in "Next Stop, Wonderland"". MGH Hotline. September 25, 1998. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008.
- ^ "North Shore as 'Hollywood East'". Boston Globe North. December 20, 1998. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Plotkin, A.S. (November 9, 1973). "$100m parking plans snagged by lot abuttors". Boston Globe. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Plotkin, A.S. (August 21, 1975). "Highway projects worth $146m stalled for lack of money". Boston Globe. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Case Law Updates Details: Conservation Law Foundation v. Romney". Center for Environmental Excellence. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.
- ^ "T Projects: Wonderland TOD". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012.
- ^ Environmental Assessment: South Garage at Wonderland Station: Revere, Massachusetts. Federal Transit Administration. January 11, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2016.
- ^ Rosenberg, Steven A. (June 24, 2012). "Projects to ease parking crunch". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013.
- ^ "Patrick-Murray Administration announces $20M Investment for Construction of a New Plaza and Pedestrian Bridge at Wonderland Station" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 16, 2011.
- ^ Daniel, Seth (July 10, 2013). "Wondy Pedestrian Bridge, Plaza Opens Quietly". Revere Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Christina and John Markey Memorial Pedestrian Bridge at Structurae
- ^ Young, Colin A. (27 March 2012). "MBTA wants solar companies to build plants at Wonderland in Revere and Readville Yard 5 in Dedham". Boston Globe. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ Stevens, Chris (15 September 2012). "MBTA to launch solar energy program at Wonderland". Daily Item. Retrieved 15 July 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Lufkin, Richard F. (1954). System Route Map (Map). Metropolitan Transit Authority.
- ^ a b Humphrey, Thomas J. (August 2020). "Origin and Development of the Fixed-Route Local Bus Transportation Network in the Cities and Towns of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority District as of December 31, 1973: Revised Edition" (PDF). NETransit.
- ^ LCCN 74014950.
- ^ "M. T. A. Announces Changes For Chelsea, Everett, Revere". The Boston Globe. August 23, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eastern Mass. to Make Stops at Wonderland". The Boston Globe. July 15, 1954. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fahey, Rich (March 29, 1989). "MBTA reverses decision, won't cut Boston buses". The Daily Item. pp. 11, 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wonderland Station Neighborhood Map" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2015.
- ^ "Summer 2012 Bus Schedule Changes". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. July 1, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Fall 2021 Service Changes". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 2021.
- ^ "Changes to Bus Route 424". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 1, 2019.
- ^ "2019 System Map" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2019.
- ^ Rosenburg, Steven (6 April 2008). "Blue Line Blues". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008.
- ^ "North Shore Transit Improvements". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
External links
- MBTA - Wonderland
- Google Maps Street View: North Shore Road entrance, Ocean Avenue entrance