Winchester's Wedgemere Station to Get Improvements

Winchester’s will undergo some renovations over the summer.

Town Meeting members voted unanimously to support Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting, which gives the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) permission to access Winchester land.

The MBTA will be using the land to construct ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliant ramps, mini-high platforms and a new drainage system for the ramps.

“It’s a unique opportunity for the town,” said Selectman Roger Berman. “The T is committed to making the entire system compliant, and a lot of these stations aren’t ADA compliant.”

According to Berman, the T will spend $12 to $15 million to renovate the station. The town of Winchester will not be paying for these improvements.

This will be the first time the Department of Transportations will be allowing mini-high platforms, which is an extension to the platform, allowing passengers in wheelchairs access to the station.

Berman said that since the project is being funded by stimulus money it needs to be completed by Nov. 15, which is why Winchester needed to hold a Special Town Meeting.

According to Town Counsel, Wade Welch, the MBTA needed to request permission to do use the town’s land because the other land they could have used is owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

“That would need to go to court, be signed by the governor and the two houses; it would have completely thrown off the timing,” Welch said.

Welch also said that the MBTA would be responsible for the renovations.

Town Meeting member, John Natale of Precinct 2, wanted to know how people with handicaps currently access the station and why they couldn’t continue to do that.

“They’re not able to access the train unless they’re carried on,” Berman said.

“I’m aware of the problems getting onto the train,” said former chair of the Disability Access Commission, Jean Batty. “I live within a block of the train and I can’t lift my son up anymore.

“This is a real problem, where real people can’t access public transportation.”