History is being made in the Four Corners section of Dorchester. Next year construction is set to begin on the new Four Corners train station which will be located between Washington Street and Geneva Ave on the Fairmount/Indigo Commuter Rail Line. Projected completion date Summer 2011.
The struggle began twenty years ago when some local residents learned of the MBTA's plans to shut down the Fairmount Line. Recognizing the potential of this line to bring much needed transportation services to the communities along the line, the wheels were set in motion to first, keep the line open and second, add more stations/service. The Greater Four Corners Action Coalition has been at the forefront of these efforts.
The Fairmount/Indigo Line is unique in that it is the the only commuter rail service that operates completely within the city of Boston. This train line is currently being operated as a Commuter Rail Line. If the activists and the community have their way that will soon change. We are working to bring rapid transit service to the communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park. Currently the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition is working with transportation officials and other groups to increase service on the line and add service on the weekends. With these changes residents in the Greater Four Corners neighborhoods will no longer have to spend on average an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half to commute to downtown Boston. Commute time to downtown will be reduced to 10 to 15 minutes. One will be able to just get on the train at Four Corners Station and go straight to South Station eliminating the long waits and crowded rides on the 23 bus.
The Greater Four Corners Action Coalition and the MBTA hosted a community meeting on September 5 to discuss the design of the planned Four Corners Station. This was the third community meeting for the design of this station. There is one final design meeting being planned for November 2007. Community residents need to attend meetings like these and be a part of the process. After this meeting there will be no more opportunities to impact the design of OUR station. This is truly history in the making!! This station will stand for generations to come and we can proudly say that we were there, that we were involved in the process. Remember things change when WE change them!!!

This blog was written by:
Pamela Bush, Community Organizer for the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition