MBTA Wellesley Square Station to Open as Wellesley’s First Commuter Rail Stop with Accessible Platforms on February 17

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will officially open Wellesley Square Station as Wellesley’s first accessible Commuter Rail location beginning on Monday, February 17, 2025. Thanks to the advocacy of local residents and leadership like Congresswoman Katherine Clark, $500,000 in grant funding was secured and earmarked for the $3 million project in the Town of Wellesley.  

To achieve stair-free, level boarding, the MBTA pursued an innovative solution by designing and installing freestanding mini-high platforms on top of the existing inaccessible inbound and outbound platforms. In addition, a number of other accessibility upgrades were made including improvements to various paths of travel and the installation of new signage.  

"Our administration is committed to making public transportation more safe, reliable and accessible for all Massachusetts residents and visitors," said Governor Maura Healey. "We're excited for the MBTA to open Wellesley’s first ADA accessible commuter rail stop, and we're grateful for the strong leadership of Whip Clark to make this possible." 

“Accessibility improvements are vital to our aim of achieving transportation equity," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “We are actively taking steps to advance capital projects to make the commuter rail more inclusive for all travelers and value the partnership of advocates and local leaders who elevate the voices of individuals with mobility challenges.”   

"I'm thrilled to see this game-changing federal investment come to life at the Wellesley Square Commuter Rail Station," said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. "Public transportation should be available and accessible to everyone, and I want to thank the local advocates who helped make this moment possible. Let's keep working together to improve our public transit system and ensure it's open to all our neighbors."   

“For many years, I have advocated to ensure that all residents of Wellesley have access to safe, reliable, and accessible public transportation. This milestone at Wellesley Square Station represents the culmination of that effort, and I’m thrilled that this innovative solution will bring us closer to true transportation equity for all,” said Representative Alice Peisch. “I’m deeply grateful to the local advocates, the MBTA staff, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, and the town’s leadership for their collaborative efforts in delivering these necessary upgrades. I’d like to particularly thank the Wellesley accessibility advocates whose tireless work and patience helped make this possible. I look forward to seeing how these improvements positively impact our community, and I will continue to advocate for further accessibility enhancements in the years ahead.” 

“I’m proud of the teams at the MBTA for their innovative solution-oriented mindset that enabled us to deliver long needed accessibility to Wellesley that significantly improve access to public transportation for residents with disabilities,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “Thank you to Whip Clark for securing the necessary funding that made this possible for local families like the Fahey and O’Hanlon that have long advocated for these essential changes.  Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we are focused on delivering meaningful results for the public, making mass transportation available to all that rely on us. This is just the beginning as we deliver accessibility improvements across our network. The public deserves access to public transportation, and we’re excited to be expanding our reach in Wellesley.”  

While the grant secured by Whip Clark addresses the immediate needs of Wellesley Square Station, the Town remains committed to finding a permanent solution that ensures ADA compliance at all three Wellesley commuter rail stations.  

In addition to Wellesley Square Station being upgraded with freestanding mini-high platforms, the T will be completing similar work in the coming months on the following stations: West Medford, Franklin, and Walpole.  

The MBTA has secured full funding for the design and construction of similar accessibility upgrades at more stations including but not limited to Concord, Wyoming Hill, Endicott, and Lincoln.   

These accessibility improvements across the Commuter Rail are an important component of the MBTA’s overarching goal of providing true system-wide accessibility. Over the last decade the MBTA has achieved the following accessibility initiatives: 

• Constructed over 75 new elevators with an additional 55 in the pipeline 

• Advanced upgrades across the Green Line stations, including at the historic Symphony Station 

• Implemented new trainings for frontline employees focused on how to provide best in class accessible service  

• Purchased new accessible subway cars to be added across multiple lines 

• Added 1,000 buses with front door ramps for accessible boarding to its fleet 

In addition, the MBTA is currently in the process of rolling out an indoor wayfinding technology for blind/low vision users.   

For more information on all the ways the MBTA is putting accessibility in motion, visit MBTA.com/accessibility. 

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