Boston Chron - City of Boston Celebrates Grand Opening of New EMS Station on South Boston's Waterfront

Trending...

Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Boston Public Health Commission, and the Public Facilities Department to officially open a new state-of-the-art ambulance station on the South Boston Waterfront. The $16 million project represents a major investment in public health infrastructure and emergency response for one of Boston's fastest-growing neighborhoods.

"Our City is home to the best medical professionals in the world, and this new EMS station will support the daily lifesaving work of our first responders," Mayor Michelle Wu. "By bringing emergency services closer to a growing neighborhood and providing our EMTs and paramedics with the equipment and facilities they need, we are helping crews respond faster citywide as they deliver critical care to keep our communities safe. I'm grateful to all our partners for helping to make this new station possible."

Located on Drydock Avenue in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park (RLFMP) adjacent to Pier 10, the new EMS station is designed to improve emergency response times and expand access to lifesaving care.

"Boston EMS has seen firsthand how dramatically this neighborhood has changed, with emergency calls in the South Boston and Seaport area doubling over the past decade," said Boston EMS Chief James Hooley. "This new station gives our members a permanent presence in a growing part of the City and puts an ambulance and our personnel closer to the people who need us. Just as importantly, it gives our EMTs and paramedics a modern facility designed to support them while they serve this community."

More on Boston Chron

"This new station is an important investment in ensuring that people have access to emergency medical care when they need it most," said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. "As the South Boston Waterfront continues to grow and welcome more residents, workers, and visitors, we must ensure that our public health infrastructure grows with it. Expanding access to timely, high-quality emergency care is essential to advancing health equity and building a healthier, more resilient Boston."

The project took less than two years to complete. The facility features a two-bay ambulance garage and a second floor space with a lounge, kitchenette, showers, and a gym to support EMS members.

"Our first responders show up for Boston on our hardest days, and this station ensures that we show up for them. It provides our EMTs and paramedics with the strategic base and resources they need to shave critical seconds off emergency response times and deliver the rapid care that the South Boston Waterfront deserves," said City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana. "As Chair of the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, I recognize how critical this investment is to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our residents and visitors alike."

As part of the City's broader commitment to sustainability and climate resilience, the new EMS station is fully electric and designed to achieve LEED certification, aligning with Boston's Green New Deal goals and efforts to reduce emissions from municipal buildings. In addition to the facility itself, the site includes a newly paved plaza and a landscaped "parklet" with trees and greenery that enhance the surrounding public space.

More on Boston Chron

"This project demonstrates that we can build critical public safety infrastructure that is both functional today and designed with Boston's future in mind," said Carleton Jones, Executive Director of the Public Facilities Department. "The new EMS station provides Boston EMS with a modern, purpose-built facility while incorporating energy efficiency, sustainable design, and new green space into the surrounding neighborhood. We are proud to have helped deliver a project that strengthens emergency response while advancing the City's broader climate and resiliency goals."

The completion of this project builds on the City's ongoing work to advance public land for public good by transforming publicly owned land into critical emergency medical infrastructure. The station was envisioned in the 2022 RLFMP Master Plan Update to address significant population growth on the South Boston Waterfront.

Boston EMS is the City's primary emergency medical services provider and one of the busiest municipal EMS providers in New England, responding to more than 141,000 emergency medical incidents each year.

"Today, we are not simply opening a new Boston EMS Station in the South Boston Waterfront; we are reaffirming our commitment to support our members, protect our neighborhoods, and ensure that when seconds matter, our highly trained Boston EMTs and paramedics are ready to answer the call for help, because saving lives depends on having the right people and resources in place. When we invest in our members by providing the facilities, equipment, staffing, and support they need, we strengthen their ability to deliver the exceptional care that the citizens of Boston expect and deserve," said Jason Yutkins, President of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association's EMS Division (BEMS-BPPA).

The new station represents the latest investment in Boston EMS under Mayor Michelle Wu's administration. Other investments have included a new two-bay ambulance station in West Roxbury, a state-of-the-art training facility, and expanded workforce development initiatives, including EMT scholarships and the relaunch of the department's Cadet Program.

0 Comments

Latest on Boston Chron