MBTA to spend $31 million on renovations to Kenmore

MBTA and Barletta Heavy Division have recently begun a $31 million renovation project on the Kenmore T station and bus stop, set to finish January 2007, to make the area more accessible and attractive, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.

"It's a complete overhaul of the station," he said. "New elevators, new escalators, demolishing the existing bus canopy and replacing it with a modern and sleek one with large glass panels, a lot of landscaping work with new shrubs and trees and new pedestrian crossings. Down at the subway level, we will be raising the platforms to make it easier to board for people with disabilities."

This project came as a surprise to College of Arts and Sciences freshman Megan Camann, who said despite Kenmore's appearance, it fulfills its purpose.

"I wasn't really expecting it because I didn't see a problem," she said. "It looks rundown, but that's how all [T stations] look. It still functions."

Pesaturo said Kenmore's limited access for persons with disabilities is one of the problems they are trying to resolve.

"Many years ago, [MBTA] worked with the federal government to identify which stations needed to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act," he said. "Kenmore was one of the key stations chosen."

CAS junior Justin Laden said Kenmore "is clearly dated in terms of architecture," adding that because the T is a Boston landmark, it should be kept in repair.

"I'm a big fan of the idea of renovating the T, because it's one of the first things people see when they come to Boston," he said. "But adding more traffic to Kenmore would be bad for both drivers and pedestrians."

Sasha Malahov, a Northeastern University sophomore who works above the Beacon Street T entrance, said the construction is "loud and annoying" and would rather see more street renovation.

"They should do more on the roads because there are these huge potholes," he said. "There are so many little things that don't cost a lot of money."

BU spokesman Colin Riley said students should be patient and careful during the renovation and eventually the benefits of the construction will show.

"A fact of life in cities all around the country is that improvements and renovations will take place," he said. "We want to make sure students exercise caution when going through the area when there is construction-related activity. The goal is that all these things lead to vast improvements and amenities in our area."

Pesaturo said the university has been cooperative throughout the whole proposal process and he expects the project will benefit everyone involved.

"We've been working with the BU community on alternative plans during construction," he said. "It's been a very good partnership with BU and the Kenmore neighborhood so that everyone's on the same page and everyone's looking at the ultimate goal of a new and beautiful Kenmore."

BU recently sent out an email to students as part of the notification of the construction, urging students to use caution during construction.