Ruggles station’s Columbus Avenue entrance closed Feb. 9 for structural repairs, renovations and upgrades, diverting riders to alternative entrances of the Orange Line and Commuter Rail with tall metal fences and bright orange “Detour” signs.
The closure is part of the second stage of a multi-year project to renovate Ruggles Station and improve rider experience. The entrance will remain closed for the next two years, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or MBTA, website. Once reopened, the entrance will be fully accessible, addressing slipping hazards, and fitted with more accessible bathrooms, improved energy-efficient lighting and new wayfinding signage, among other features.
Phase one of the project, completed in December 2021, allowed more Commuter Rail trains to stop in Ruggles, renovated the lower busway area and facilitated transfers to other modes throughout the station.
While the entrance was scheduled to be closed in January, construction was delayed after unexpected repair work was required near the lower busway stairs.
“Construction work began on the upper busway in the spring of 2025 and subsequently shifted to the stairs at the lower busway in advance of the planned Columbus Ave. entrance closure. The intention was to close the Columbus Ave. entrance in January 2026; however, the need for unexpected repairs on the lower busway stairs contributed to delays,” an MBTA spokesperson said in a Feb. 18 statement to The Huntington News.
Amalia Chico, a second-year architecture major who lives in International Village, or IV, a residence hall adjacent to Ruggles, said signs in the area warned her of the closure.
“When I first saw it, it was in the tiniest print, and I remember the only reason I paid attention to it is because people stopped to stare and look at it and then their reactions were kind of funny,” she said. “They were like, ‘What? What do you mean, they’re closing it down?’”
Chico expressed frustration about having to take a longer route to the architecture studio, which is located beneath Ruggles. Usually, the fastest route to the studio from IV is through Ruggles.
“In my other classes, I can go other ways, but for that, I would go through Ruggles. It’s definitely a little annoying, especially since I feel like most architecture students, they get back late,” Chico said. “It’s obviously not just architecture students. Everyone who lives in IV and is going to their classes goes through that way.”
Abbey Palmer, a second-year communication studies and sociology combined major, shared similar concerns about her route to IV’s dining hall, United Table, now that the entrance is closed.
“I often go to IV from my class and I try to go through Ruggles because it’s a better shortcut, so it’s really not ideal, especially when I’m trying to eat during the day and then go do work,” Palmer said.
While it is an inconvenience, some feel as though the construction is necessary for a better Ruggles station.
“It’s obviously a pillar of our community, so hopefully the renovation makes it pretty,” said Aya Belayachi, a second-year pharmacy major.
Northeastern and the MBTA will meet bi-weekly “to review any upcoming work that might impact the campus,” according to a MBTA spokesperson in a Feb. 18 statement to The News. Northeastern will also update the MBTA project team about the progress of the construction at 840 Columbus Ave, a new residence hall.
“To reduce disruptions, the MBTA will, whenever possible, confine construction to designated hours, with special attention to limiting activity during nighttime and early morning,” a MBTA spokesperson wrote in a Feb. 18 statement to The News. “Furthermore, the Ruggles contract includes a restriction that prohibits work directly above the School of Architecture and limits allowable work in that area to the period between May 15 and August 15 to minimize impacts during the academic year.”
Both the construction and the entrance’s closure are expected to last two years, but students hope they finish as quickly as possible.
“I don’t know what it is with Boston, but it takes a long time to get things done, and right now, I know it’s a weekend, but they’re not doing anything on it. It’s closed, so it’s annoying,” Chico said.
