With discussion picking up on the proposed Orr Building development, and given the significance of the rail station to the transit-oriented development of Austin St., it seemed useful to snap a few photos of the stairway leading to the rail platform. Click on the images for high resolution version.
Below is a photo of the Newtonville rail station with the Orr building on the corner of Walnut and Washington in the background. 
The stairway has the appearance of something thrown in place on a temporary basis.
It is striking how long a walk commuters have from the stairway to shelter.
It is laughable that this is considered appropriate for transit oriented use. Can Newton really afford to start adding high density housing with this and other likewise inaccessible commuter stops as our “transit”?