Healey, Cambridge Mayor and Partners Mark Completion of Kendall Square Station Upgrades

Governor Maura Healey and Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui joined MBTA officials, MIT and Boston Properties at a ribbon-cutting in Kendall Square to mark the completion of renovated inbound and outbound station head houses that add elevators, improved lighting, safety systems and a rooftop public terrace open to the public.

The upgrades were presented as the product of coordinated public and private investment and years of planning. "When we make the station more accessible, we're widening the door to opportunity," Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui said, framing the project as a step toward making jobs in Kendall Square reachable for people across the region.

Why it matters: Officials said the work improves accessibility and reliability for thousands of daily riders and supports the neighborhood's role as a hub for research, businesses and students. Governor Maura Healey highlighted systemwide reliability gains, stating, "Slow zones are gone for the first time in 20 years, saving riders 2,400,000 minutes every weekday," and cited expanded vehicle fleets, higher frequencies and restored services as signs of progress.

MBTA investments and partners: An MBTA official identified the Kendall Square inbound and outbound head houses as part of a multiagency effort that includes private contributions. The official said private development has contributed more than $440,000,000 in infrastructure improvements to the MBTA since 2020, with roughly $330,000,000 of that coming during the current administration, and that the projects celebrated at Kendall represent about $60,000,000 of investment. The MBTA representative described features added at the station: a new platform-level lobby, public and employee restrooms, a new escalator, multiple redundant elevators and upgraded life-safety and lighting systems to increase resilience and accessibility.

Project timeline and features: Officials said the inbound head house opened in February 2023 and the outbound head house opened in April (year not specified in remarks). MBTA and partner representatives emphasized redundancy — so that with one elevator out, another remains available — enabling timely maintenance and accessibility for riders with disabilities, parents with strollers and others who cannot use stairs. Boston Properties (BXP) representatives noted they will maintain a rooftop terrace above the outbound head house.

Institutional role and local planning: Ben Lavery, representing MIT, described the head-house work as part of a 15-year vision to knit together innovation, housing and public spaces in Kendall Square. Cambridge City Manager Ian Wong highlighted local zoning provisions that reserve commercial space for entrepreneurs and startups as part of the neighborhood's development strategy.

Next steps: Following remarks, officials prepared to move to the ribbon-cutting; no votes or formal governmental actions were taken at the ceremony.

Quotes in context: All quotations are taken from remarks delivered at the event. Speakers identified at the ceremony included Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui; Governor Maura Healey; the MBTA official who led remarks as the interim secretary of transportation and MBTA general manager; Cambridge City Manager Ian Wong; Ben Lavery of MIT; and Jeff Lowenberg of Boston Properties.

Ending: After thanking project teams, officials and community partners, the group proceeded to the ribbon-cutting ceremony that formally marked the completion of the Kendall Square head-house renovations.