The Subway

In 1891 a Rapid Transit Commission (RTC) was put together by the legislature. Its job was to study all the phases of transportation in Boston and report back with specific solutions regarding location, cost, and implementation of new modes of transportation. The commission was very thorough in its examination. They studied the latest technology developed in Europe. On April 5, 1892, their report came out. It endorsed an elevated railroad line with a branch to go under the Boston Common due to necessity (Cheape 129).

This report contained many recommendations on how to improve transportation in Boston. Specifically it included:

1. Consolidation of the nine different railroad depots into two massive terminals - North and South Station.
2. Many street widening and rearrangement of streets.
3. Proposals for a subway line and elevated lines.

Source: Clark 12

The council evaluated subway routes, construction techniques and cost. They estimated the cost of the project to be $5 million; more than three times the original estimate (Clark 13). There was conflict in the legislature over the method of financing, but due to the increasing congestion in the streets of Boston they realized that it had to be done.

The idea began in 1893, when two bills were proposed. The first bill would have created a Metropolitan Transit Commission to oversee construction of an alley for an elevated line (Meigs line) over the business district. The Boston electorate defeated this in referendum due to the amount of city funds involved. The second bill, (Charter 478, Acts of 1893), created a three man board of Subway Commissioners to be appointed by the mayor. They were to further study the possibility of creating a subway under Boston (Clark 12-13).

On July 2, 1894, the legislature passed a bill that created a Boston Transit Commission, which passed on referendum on July 24, 1896. The primary duty of this group was to oversee the construction of the new subway (Clark 13). This bill passed while most members were away on vacation, and went on to win in a general referendum. The design of the subway was left to Chief Engineer Howard A. Cassen. The estimated total length was 2 and 2/3 miles and estimated cost was $5 million. Groundbreaking was on March 28, 1895, when the first spade was put in the Public Gardens. Construction went rapidly after that. The first section opened on September 1, 1897. It ran from Park Street to the Public Gardens, with two additional sections to open later (Clark 14). During its first year of operation it carried more than 50,000,000 passengers, and as predicted it relieved the traffic congestion.

The subway has grown since then to a whole network covering most of Boston, and much of it is under the ground. The reasons for its building and the evolution of transportation in Boston have to due with the congested streets and transportation that could not handle the number of riders. However, Boston is unique in its geography. It could not spread out the transportation to the suburbs due to geographical constraints. Therefore, it was the first city in the United States to have an electrified underground subway system.