Prior to its 2010 cancellation, the Urban Ring Project planned for a circumferential BRT line with a stop at Mystic Mall.

Prior to its closure, the remaining commuter rail platform was located on the north side of the two tracks, with a metal shelter.

[5]: 336  On April 10, 1854, the Eastern Railroad opened a line from Revere to Boston, with trackage rights over the Grand Junction from Chelsea to Somerville.

[12][13] On April 18, 1958, the B&M received permission from the Public Utilities Commission to drastically curtail its suburban commuter service, including abandoning branches, closing stations, and cutting trains.

Among the approved cuts was the closure of all Eastern Division service south of Lynn, including the entirety of the Saugus Branch, plus mainline stations at East Somerville, Everett, Chelsea, and Forbes.

[6] During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the MBTA reopened several inner-suburb commuter rail stations in response to community desire for service that was faster if less frequent than buses.

[17] The station opened on December 1, 1985, concurrent with the restoration of regular service on the line following the 1984 fire that destroyed the Danvers River drawbridge.

[22] Under draft plans released in 2008, a dedicated busway was to be built using the disused Grand Junction right-of-way, paralleling the active commuter rail tracks through Everett and Chelsea.

[20][5]: 337  Planning for some smaller corridors continued; the Chelsea–South Boston section was given high priority because Chelsea was densely populated yet underserved by transit.

[26] In March 2013, the MBTA began studying an extension of the Silver Line to Chelsea via a newly constructed bypass road in East Boston.

The second alignment would follow the Grand Junction to just short of the existing station, then diverge onto surface roads to the square.

[27] In September 2013, the MBTA indicated that it would pursue the first alternative despite potential issues with bridge clearances and rebuilding Chelsea station.

[35] Construction on the second phase of the project, which included the relocated Chelsea commuter rail station plus transit signal priority upgrades for the SL3, began in August 2019.