Fields Corner (MBTA Station)

Fields Corner (MBTA Station)

Fields Corner is a station on the rapid transit Red Line at Fields Corner in Dorchester, Massachusetts. It opened on November 5, 1927, serving as the southern terminus of the line for about a year. In addition to the two rapid transit platforms, one on each side of the line, there were streetcar tracks on each side, with the departing tracks at the north (railroad west) side split into two, and a bus loop under the south (east) track. Free transfers were available between all modes. For buses, a paper transfer was required.

The lower-level busway was later closed, and all buses (and trackless trolleys, later discontinued) were routed to the upper level. The upper level busways were closed around 2003 for reconstruction.

The new Fields Corner station entrance lobby opened on Friday, December 22, 2006. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:05 am that day, Fields Corner became the final fare-controlled station on the Red Line to be converted to use the CharlieCard-based automated fare collection system. The complete station renovation was completed on September 23, 2008.

The station, located on a high grade, is one of a small number of elevated rapid transit stations remaining in the MBTA system. (The only others are Science Park, Malden Center, Charles/MGH, Wollaston, and Beachmont.) Boston once had several elevated lines, but the Atlantic Avenue Elevated, Charlestown Elevated, Washington Street Elevated, and Causeway Elevated were all torn down in favor of subway and surface-level lines.