Central station (MBTA)
Central station (also called Central Square station) is an Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rapid transit station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It serves the 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. History. 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. (Extension to the northwest had  been previously proposed in 1927 to add the additional entrances.) The $11.2 million project was completed on March 9, 1988. As part of the Arts on the Line program, two works of public art were installed: 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. , design was nearly complete. Bus connections. Central is a major transfer station, with six MBTA bus routes running from the station to various parts of Cambridge, Somerville, Allston, and Boston.