Riders at Massachusetts' Central Square station still don't know how upcoming work will affect their trips. A delay in the $39 million accessibility upgrade means they'll also wait longer for the project to finish.
The MBTA now plans to begin station construction after the project's previously projected completion date.
Here's what to know
The MBTA's systemwide accessibility plan, presented in 2019, includes an updated inbound escalator and a replacement outbound elevator at Central Square station, along with two additional elevators and general station refreshes, according to Cambridge Day.
The latest video on the project's website is an October 2023 update in which an MBTA project manager forecast completion by mid-2026.
Late 2028 is now the expected completion date. Station construction is scheduled for winter 2026-27, after early utility relocation work in fall 2026.
The systemwide webpage still categorized Central Square as a design-stage project, while the MBTA updated its project website following Cambridge Day's Oct. 21 inquiry about outdated information.
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More background
Accessibility should be "thought of and prioritized," MassArt student Monique Baron told Cambridge Day. The 34-year-old passes through Central Square station three or more times a week.
Several riders Cambridge Day interviewed hadn't heard about the renovation. Among them were Meera Rothman, a 27-year-old Cambridge resident who uses the station most days, and Ana Schon, a 24-year-old MIT student who generally finds the MBTA communicative about projects affecting commuters.
The MBTA didn't answer questions about possible station closures, aboveground bus route changes, or service interruptions. It also didn't clarify whether elevators and escalators would be available during construction, which is information riders need to plan accessible trips.
What's being done?
The MBTA said the project was "moving forward in phases as construction plans, costs, and schedules are finalized. The MBTA is allowing more time for contractors to bid on portions of the station work to help secure better pricing. In the meantime, utility work will continue as originally planned."
The statement came in place of answers to 14 questions Cambridge Day submitted. Among the unresolved concerns is whether the $39 million budget set in 2019 will cover the project as construction costs rise nationally.
Mailing list subscribers were still waiting for their first project update even after new information appeared on the website, Cambridge Day reported.
Jeremy Warnick, Cambridge's director of media relations, directed inquiries to the MBTA, saying the project wasn't under city oversight, Cambridge Day reported. The agency said Cambridge participated in the design.
Sruthi Adi, a 38-year-old Cambridge resident, uses Central Square's trains and buses almost daily. "I take these stairs," she said, per Cambridge Day, looking toward the station staircase. "They're not exactly accessible."
Where can I learn more?
The following stories look at transportation concerns across Massachusetts.
• Cape Cod bus riders are set for safer, drier boarding under a new glass canopy.
• Massachusetts' MBTA commuter rail costs hit $5.2 billion. A new contract could top $10 billion.
• The MBTA locked in diesel at $2.23, with price spikes bringing $9 million in rebates.
• Boston's slowest MBTA buses are getting slower, while bus bunching finally starts to ease.
• In Boston, the SL4 became the MBTA's slowest bus route, averaging just 6.09 mph.
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