UPDATE 8/16/19: This station has been completely rebuilt! Check out the new review here.
Wollaston is definitely one of the most notable stations on the Red Line. Does that mean it’s good? Hahahahahahaha, absolutely not. And being the only non-wheelchair accessible station on the Red Line isn’t something you want to be called “notable” for.
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| Sigh…what am I getting into here? |
The platform is really ugly. Although it’s technically elevated, it’s not that high up and there isn’t much to see. It’s also in brutalist-style, making it really imposing. The benches are in these ugly waiting areas with peeling paint and dirty glass, but due to the weather, most people were waiting in the mezzanine. Speaking of which,..
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| The mezzanine was still freezing, though. |
Descending the stairs (there’s no elevator), you reach an enclosed area with a couple of vending machines. After passing through the fare gates, there’s the mezzanine, which for some reason is below ground level. This means that it’s prone to flooding – probably not the best design choice to put it below ground, then.
When it’s not flooding, the mezzanine still isn’t very good. It’s spacious and all, but the architecture is pretty bland and ugly. And why does this station have an open skylight? For one thing, you can’t see the sky because the platform roof is in the way. For another, it just makes the place colder! The mezzanine also makes sure to remind you what country we’re in, with no fewer than three American flags in it.
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| That station sign is comically tiny. |
The first entrance leads out to the station’s parking lot. It’s fairly large, with 550 spaces. The entrance, however, is still ugly and brutalist, with a tiny “Wollaston” sign. Really, it’s super small. Surprisingly, this station also has a “Pedal and Park” bike cage, which is a nice touch. It’s good to have these facilities in the middle of a dense area like this.
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| How is anyone supposed to notice this entrance? |
On the other side of the tracks is another entrance. This one is pretty hidden – the only indication that it exists is a low Wollaston sign and a small T logo almost right next to a traffic light. Interestingly, there’s a small Chinatown on this side of the station, with a few businesses featuring Chinese lettering. And further down the street is a bus stop for the 211 and 217. It’s just a stop – no shelter or anything. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some concrete monstrosity bus stop, just like the rest of the station.
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| A train leaving. |
Station: Wollaston
Please change the rating to a 2 because this is the only non-accessable station on the red line, the platform is brutalist, and the mezzanine is prone to flooding.
hehe when i lived in Quincy & went 2 the preschool outside, i loved to see commuter rails rushing by when waiting for a red line to go back to Q Center. Good ole times
this station looks a lot like the northern orange line stations
Wollaston Station will close Monday, January 8, for renovation. Free bus shuttles will run from Wollaston to North Quincy and Quincy Center.
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Major accessibility improvements, state-of-the-art safety features, and parking lot site improvements are some of the enhancements to be made during the project renovating Wollaston Station as part of the $911 million investment committed to improve the South Side Red Line.
Currently the only non ADA-accessible station on the Red Line, Wollaston will be transformed into a modern, fully accessible facility, making the entirety of the Red Line 100% accessible.
New features and upgrades to the station include 3 brand new elevators, 2 new escalators, and additional customer paths to / from the new station, including 2 additional stairways, new bathrooms, and energy efficient lighting. New electrical, fire protection, security, flooding mitigation, and site utility upgrades will also occur to support the accessible improvements. The estimated construction value of the Wollaston Station Improvements is $33 million.