Construction Update - July 11, 2025

Rendering of Dartmouth Street entrance in final condition

The following is an update on construction activity for the Back Bay Station Concourse Renovation Project.

Please allow an extra five minutes as you get used to new construction zones and paths of travel at the station.

Current impacts

• The Pre-Construction (Enabling) Phase of the project is now underway. Work zones are being established at various locations around the station, both within the concourse and by the MBTA busway on Clarendon Street.

• Beginning later this month, stairs and escalators to the Orange Line will be intermittently closed. There are currently three sets of stairs and escalators to the Orange Line, and at least two sets will remain open at all times during construction.

• See the below graphic for more details on the location of work zones during this phase. We anticipate this layout will be in place for approximately three to four months.

Work zone locations during the Enabling (Pre-construction) Phase of the project.

Upcoming Impacts

Beginning in September, the north side entrance/exit on Clarendon Street will be closed and customers will be directed to use the adjacent entrance/exit. More details will be shared closer to the start of this change.

In November/December, the new bike cage outside the station at the Clarendon Street entrance will open and the existing bike cage within the concourse will be closed and removed. Sufficient notice will be shared with the public in advance of the bike cage relocation.

Project Announcement - June 10, 2025

Rendering of Dartmouth Street entrance in final condition

Hello,

We are excited to announce the start of the Back Bay Station Concourse Renovation Project! Beginning this summer, Back Bay Station will undergo a major revitalization, with significant improvements to the concourse level. Benefits to Back Bay Station users include:

-          Increased pedestrian flow though the concourse level

-          Better accommodation for passengers waiting for trains on the concourse level

-          New lighting and audio equipment to improve and modernize the station’s interior

-          Improvements to signage and wayfinding

-          New retail opportunities for MBTA riders and the community

Rendering of the station interior

Construction Phases

Construction will be completed in phases so that access to the Orange Line, Commuter Rail, Amtrak, and bus services can be maintained at all times. The project is expected to last through Spring 2027. Each phase will target different areas of the station.

• The Enabling Phase, which begins this month, will involve establishing work zones, building electrical infrastructure, and delivering steel. Crews will also be constructing a new bike cage outside at the Clarendon Street entrance of the station.

• Phase 1 is scheduled to begin in November 2025, and will focus on the center and east side of the station concourse, along with the exterior structure adjacent to Clarendon Street.

• Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin in July 2026, will focus on the west side of the station and the exterior structure adjacent to Dartmouth Street.

Stay Informed

The project website for the Back Bay Station Concourse Renovation Project is now live! Visit backbaystationrenovations.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the project, including a project overview, information about the construction phases of the project and any impacts to paths of travel, and the history of the station.

We are committed to keeping members of the public, users of Back Bay Station, and community stakeholders continually informed throughout the project with a robust outreach program. We will send announcements through this email list regarding construction schedule and impacts to users of the station, as well as provide updates to the website. Public outreach events at the station will occur as the project advances, and you can share your questions and comments with the project team anytime at team@backbaystationrenovations.com.