The switch from right to left side and vice versa was accomplished at a complex of tunnels located at East 65th Street.

In 2009, RTA began a complete renovation of the station as it had not received any significant improvements since its original construction and was not accessible compliant.

The rebuilt station opened in 2011[7] and includes a new headhouse built on the northeast corner of East 55th and Bower Ave attached to a new parking lot and bus loop.

From the headhouse, a bridge extends over the eastbound rapid tracks to a stairway and elevator leading to a single, central island platform.

East 55th Station is located adjacent to RTA's Central Rail Maintenance Facility, opened on April 29, 1984, on a 20-acre (81,000 m2) site.

The nearby Kingbury Shops originally built for the Shaker Rapid Transit were closed as operations were consolidated in the Central Rail facility.