Station Review #7: Mattapan Station (MBTA)

PCC Trolley at Mattapan Station

Mattapan Station is the southwestern terminus station for MBTA's Mattapan Trolley. The station is located in the southern portion of the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, immediately north of the Neponset River (and thus north of Milton). 

History

The old station in 2006, before renovation. Credit to Frank Herbert for the photo

Mattapan station was made in the late 1920s and opened on December 21st, 1929. The station used this stone depot for many years until 2006 or so when the new station was built. 

Station Tour

View from Mattapan Station

Mattapan Station has shelters with benches, as well as shelters without them. The architecture style is similar to Temple University Station (SEPTA), but only specifically with the bench spacing and the general resemblance to gas station canopies. The station also has two bus loops, for all of the bus routes that either deviate to or terminate at the station. 

I'd write about the various other features at the station, but there isn't much else there. There is the depot for the Mattapan Line trollies themselves, but that is of little use to most passengers. Mattapan station has very little in the name of facilities, and with what it does have, many feel oddly hostile to use. 

Transit Connections

The sign for Mattapan Station, showing bus schedules

Mattapan Station has two bus loops, the North and the South loops. From the North Loop, you can transfer to these buses:

• 24 to Ashmont and Hyde Park
• 30 to Forest Hills Station via Cummins Highway
• 33 to Readville
• 245 to Quincy Center
• 716 to Cobbs Corner

And from the South Loop:

• 28 to Ruggles
• 29 to Jackson Square
• 31 to Forest Hills Station via Morton Street


In all, eight buses go directly to Mattapan station. Additionally, the station is a 10-minute walk from Blue Hill Avenue station, allowing a transfer to the Franklin/Foxborough and Fairmount commuter lines. 

Nearby Points of Interest
Southern Mattapan

There are many nearby points of interest, these including Mattapan itself, and the Neponset River trail, among others. 

Now, onto the checklist:

Mid-Sized Train Station Amenities:


Accessible: ✓
Bathrooms: ×
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ×
Indoor Shelters: ×
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Parking: × 
Seating: ✓ (albeit scant)
Shelters: ✓ 
Station In Good Condition: ✓ 
Ticket Kiosks (if applicable): n/a
Ticket Offices: n/a
TOD: ✓
Train Departure/Arrival Info (signs that update/screens): ✓
Updated Signage: ✓ 

Final Verdict: This station gets a much-deserved 4.5/10. 

Station Directory

--------Suffolk County--------
Mattapan
--------Norfolk County--------
Capen Street
Valley Road
Central Avenue
Milton
--------Suffolk County--------
Butler
Ashmont

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