Construction Update - September 9, 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 ACTIVITIES AND impacts

Crews are continuing to prepare for major construction as part of the Pre-Construction (Enabling) Phase. Current construction activities include:

• Constructing the new bike cage outside at the Clarendon Street entrance of the station.

• Building electrical infrastructure throughout the station.

• Preparing for steel delivery.

• Constructing the new MBTA HUB.

See the below graphic for more details on the location of work zones and station layout currently in place.

Current work zone locations as of 09/09/2025

Upcoming Activities and Impacts

Orange Line Staircase Impacts

In order to accommodate steel delivery, the following impacts to Orange Line stairs will be in place:

• From the morning of September 15 to evening of September 16, the east staircase to the Orange Line (closest to Clarendon Street) will be closed all day.

• From the morning of September 22 to the evening of September 23, the west staircase to the Orange Line (closest to Dartmouth Street) will be closed all day.

The elevator and central staircase to the Orange Line platform will remain open at all times.

Clarendon Street Door to Close in Late September

Beginning in late September, a new work zone layout will be established within the station. To accommodate this new layout, the northeast door to Clarendon Street will be closed. The other door to Clarendon Street will remain open at all times throughout construction. This door will remain closed until Summer 2026 to accommodate Phase 1 construction.

See the below graphic for the new layout of the station beginning later this month:

New work zone layout beginning late September

New Bike Cage

Beginning in November/December, the new bike cage will open outside the station at the Clarendon Street entrance. Once this new bike cage is in place, the existing bike cage within the concourse will be closed and removed.

More information will be shared later this fall as the schedule is finalized, and advanced notice will be provided to customers.

Construction Update - August 8, 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 have been established at various locations around the station, both within the concourse and by the MBTA busway on Clarendon Street.

• 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 two more months.

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

Upcoming September 2025 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, including an updated map, will be shared closer to the start of this change.

Additionally, there will be some short-term closures of the stairways and escalators to the Orange Line. The specific dates of these closures will be shared in future updates, as the schedule is finalized.

We are also pleased to share that beginning in September, a temporary bus shelter will be established in the northwest corner of the MBTA busway near Clarendon Street. This shelter will provide an additional waiting area for buses besides the glass area and station overhang along the Clarendon Street entrance.

Future Impacts

It is anticipated that in the November/December timeframe, a new bike cage will open outside the station at the Clarendon Street entrance. Once this new bike cage is in place, the existing bike cage within the concourse will be closed and removed. More information about the location and opening of the new bike cage will be shared later this fall.

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.

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. 

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.