City opens $16 million all-electric ambulance station in South Boston
The new facility at Drydock Avenue aims to reduce response times in the Seaport and South Boston neighborhoods as emergency calls double over the last decade.
By Nia Foster ·
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu opened a new Boston EMS station on Monday at Drydock Avenue. The $16 million building is fully electric and located within the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park near Pier 10. Construction began in May 2025 and finished in under two years.
The new site includes a garage for two ambulances and a second floor containing a break room, kitchen, showers, and a gym for EMTs and paramedics. The project also features a paved plaza and a parklet with trees and vegetation open to the public. The building is seeking LEED certification to align with the city's Green New Deal emissions goals.
Emergency calls in South Boston and the Seaport doubled over the past ten years, according to Boston EMS Chief James Hooley. He noted that the station places staff and vehicles closer to those in need. Hooley added that overall call volumes for Boston EMS grow by 1% to 2% annually. The department handled 140,701 incidents in 2024 and attends to more than 141,000 medical emergencies each year.
Previously, the West Broadway station covered both South Boston and the Waterfront. With the new base, the Seaport will have a permanently stationed ambulance. Mayor Wu stated that bringing emergency services closer to a growing neighborhood will help teams respond faster citywide, not just in the Waterfront.
Public Facilities Department Director Carleton Jones said the project demonstrates that public safety infrastructure can be functional today while planning for the city's future. The station is part of the 2022 Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park Master Plan Update, which proposed the site to address population growth in the area.
Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu emphasized that health infrastructure must grow alongside new residents, workers, and visitors. She identified rapid emergency care as essential for health equity. City Councilor Henry Santana, president of the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, said the station will allow teams to save critical seconds in every response. Jason Yutkins, president of the EMS division of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, noted that investments in facilities, equipment, and personnel strengthen the capacity of EMTs and paramedics.
The new building joins recent investments in Boston EMS, including a two-ambulance station in West Roxbury and a training center. The administration also offers EMT scholarships and has reactivated the Cadet Program. That program fully funds EMT training for participants, who then enter the department's Recruit Academy. Boston EMS serves only the city of Boston; residents of Chelsea, Everett, and Revere rely on their respective municipal ambulance services. Call 911 for any medical emergency.
