Winchester’s MBTA Center Station officially opens

Residents have been anxiously awaiting the day when all the construction and street closures around the Winchester Center Station would be gone. That day has officially arrived.

On July 16, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), state and town officials gathered to cut the ribbon on the commuter rail station in downtown Winchester.

“This is terrific,” said Rep. Michael Day, before the ribbon cutting. “It’s a great day because all the construction material is gone and that will allow the business community to re-open and get back to normal.”

Day said it’s been 15 years since Sen. Jason Lewis and town officials first started a campaign to rehab the station, which had not been updated since the 1950s, and was in a horrible state of disrepair.

During his speech Wednesday, Day added that after “a few more fallen slabs, they realized it need more than just a few repairs.”

Lewis said this was the first project he worked on way back when he was a state representative. And given all the delays and problems the project has faced since 2011 when it was first started, he said it was a “small miracle” the station is open.

Lewis said among the challenges were all the design alterations by both the town and MBTA, the various changes in leadership on both the town and state levels, the pandemic in 2020 and the rising costs of materials.

He added safety concerns over the deteriorating station and its lack of accessibility caused it to be closed in 2021.

The MBTA demolished the old station and full construction began June 2022. The station’s south end was was partially opened September 2024 and the entire station fully opened June 3, 2025.

The station cost is estimated at $50 million.

According to the MBTA project site, the work to bring the station up-to-date and make it accessible consisted of the following:

• Installation of new high-level platforms that allow for level, easy boarding. The platforms also accommodate longer, nine-car trains to increase station capacity.

• Reconstructed access ramps and new elevators for better accessibility.

• Upgraded canopies, signs, railings, and lighting for safety and security.

• Added benches, bike racks, a public address system, and other amenities for comfort and convenience.

• Updated walkways, sidewalks, and parking areas.

MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, who was on hand for the ribbon cutting and a tour of the station, said the Legislature has invested about $8 billion in transportation infrastructure and projects like Winchester showcase just what can be done.

Eng said since COVID-19, ridership has been up across the MBTA, but especially on the commuter rail, where it’s “exploded by 200% on weekends.” He said the MBTA has also put forth monetary incentives, such as providing a $10 weekend pass that allows residents to ride as much as they want and it’s expanded to the three-day weekend.

Eng praised the town, both its officials and residents involved in making the project a reality all those years ago. And, he added, all the workers, state legislators and other officials who have stuck by the project.

“I’m pleased to be here at the finish line,” Eng said Wednesday afternoon. “But this project started 15 years ago and a lot of people have worked on this. Winchester should be proud of this new full, state-of-the-art station. It’s an example of what we want to do across our system.”

Local reaction

Town officials and residents gathered at the base of the new station, many standing in the 90 degree heat just to witness the final steps of a project that’s caused closures, parking problems and other issues during its construction.

“We are excited that this project is substantially complete, the re-opened station looks great. With the improvements made to accessibility, riders will have an easier time boarding and disembarking at the Winchester Center Station,” said Select Board Chair Michelle Prior. “Additionally, our residents, businesses, and visitors are thrilled to see Laraway Road again open to traffic.”

Town Manager Beth Rudolph was town engineer when the project was first brought up in 2011. She said she grateful it was finally over.

“It’s exciting,” Rudolph said. “It was hard to have construction going on in the middle of the town and community.”

Heather von Mering also started working on the project when she was a representative of the Historic Commission on the MBTA working committee.

She came down with her daughter Wednesday to see the final product, which incorporates stones from the former station, something she said was very important to residents.

“It’s so exciting to have the center back,” von Mering said. “When I moved to the Planning Board, I remember how hard we worked to integrate this with the zoning for downtown. It’s great to see that this will bring life back to the town center.”