The town of Belmont was formed around terrain and a public transit system where the most populated neighborhoods reside within the best proximity to the T. Our beloved commuter rail stations, Waverley and Belmont Center, are part of a multi-modal infrastructure that allows those from Belmont and surrounding communities to access the train by foot, bus and/or car.

In 2013, the MBTA made slight improvements to the Waverley Square station that triggered federal ADA compliance mandates to be achieved by the end of 2015. They have now presented an option to close Waverley and open a brand new station on Pleasant Street/Route 60. Concerned residents kicked off a series of meetings to gather information to learn the impact, benefits and limitations of such a proposal. Having researched all options, we believe and shared with the MBTA and Belmont's Board of Selectmen that closing Waverley is a very bad idea; that opening a new station on Pleasant Street reduces the likelihood of the Belmont Center station being operable; and that it is in the best interest of the MBTA to seek appropriate maintenance and upgrades to ensure Waverley is a good train station accessible to all.

On both October 10th and November 26th, 2015, the MBTA had promised to facilitate a charrette (small, regular group meetings to problem-solve ideas and bring in appropriate local resources as needed). However, as of December 11, 2015, there has been no such progress and there is an ever-present concern that the proposed new station and closing of Waverley is inevitable.

Recognizing the plight the MBTA is in financially and operationally, the group of concerned citizens is now launching a letter campaign to the attention of the Governor's office. We need your online signature and comments to support our efforts to enforce the MBTA's promise of a collaborative project to keep our commuter rail stations open and accessible to all.