The station's interior, occupied by an auto parts store for years, is being renovated and is partially occupied by a periodontist's office.[5] It is not used as a passenger waiting area, although the building's eaves provide some shelter for outbound passengers.
Renovations
Temporary ramp at the station in 2020
Newton Highlands station has three entrances – ramps from Walnut Street and Station Avenue, and stairs from Hyde Street – all to the outbound platform. Passengers must cross the tracks to reach the inbound platform. The station had low platforms and the ramps were too steep, making the station not fully accessible; however, portable lifts were present to provide partial accessibility.[6]
Design for a fully accessible renovation reached 30% in October 2015.[7] The project will make the two existing ramps accessible, add an accessible ramp from Hyde Street to the inbound platform, and raise the platforms.[8] In 2019–20, a temporary accessible ramp and platform sections were built to make the station accessible while it was used as a terminal during track work on the line.[9][10] By December 2022, design was to completed that month; the project was expected to be advertised for bidding in early 2023, with construction beginning after midyear.[11][12] Design was not completed until 2023; by November 2023, the project was expected to be bid in early 2024 with construction beginning that fall.[13] In June 2024, the MBTA indicated that construction would require "numerous shutdowns" of service and that development of a construction strategy was underway.[14]
^Brelsford, Laura (June 5, 2019). "SWA Initiatives—June 2019"(PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. p. 1.
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