page_title: Central station (MBTA)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Central station (MBTA) / History
caption_attribution_description: Cambridge, Massachusetts: Tiles in "Central" MBTA station
context_page_description: Central is an MBTA transit station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It serves the rapid transit Red Line and has a street-level terminal for the MBTA bus system. It is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue with Western Avenue, Prospect Street, and Magazine Street at Central Square.
  The station is fully accessible, with each of the two side platforms served by an elevator.
context_section_description: Central Square station opened along with Park Street Under, Kendall Square station, and Harvard Square station on March 23, 1912. Several 1912-built tile mosaics displaying the station name are still visible above the platforms. Similar mosaics are visible at a number of other older MBTA stations, including South Station and Broadway on the Red Line.
  On January 26, 1978, heavy rains flooded the station. 
  In the mid-1980s, the platforms were extended at many early-built Red Line stations, allowing six-car trains to be run beginning in January 1988. The platforms at Central were extended to the northwest (contrary to original plans for the southeast) beginning on April 25, 1985, with new entrances placed west of Prospect Street. As part of the Arts on the Line program, two works of public art were installed:
  East Indian, by Elizabeth Mapelli, seven fused glass tile murals behind benches on the platforms
  Circle Square by Anne Storrs and Dennis Cunningham, 100 ceramic tile reliefs mounted above the station columns
  The MBTA agreed to replace the inbound elevator as part of the 2006 settlement of Joanne Daniels-Finegold, et al. v. MBTA. Notice to proceed was given in June 2017. The elevator was closed on April 9, 2018; due to issues with conduits and a standpipe, completion was delayed by over a year to April 2, 2020. The MBTA also plans to add two additional elevators to the station, and to replace the outbound elevator. As of May 2020, design is expected to be complete in 2020.
caption: Old tile sign above the platforms
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