Hello MBTA BNR team, We in Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) greatly appreciate the improved proposed bus changes in Somerville in the second draft of the Bus Network Redesign. It’s obvious from the revisions to proposed routes in this draft that you all took the time to listen to and incorporate much of the community feedback on the first draft, and…
Bus routes are going to change in Somerville (and beyond), and the MBTA shared an updated proposal of what that might look like. Since the initial proposal in May, they made lots of changes based on public input. But there's still room for your input! Join their online meeting Nov 2. Here's the new proposal compared to the previous proposal and…
View STEP's comments on the big proposed changes to MBTA bus routes in Somerville. We support the MBTA’s intent to modernize the bus network for the first time in many decades and its stated goal of creating a more equitable network with more frequent service, better connections, and more all-day service. But we’re also disappointed with some aspects of this first…
In its recent proposal, the MBTA put forward big potential changes to bus routes in Somerville as a result of the Better Bus Project. Their goal of the Bus Network Redesign (BNR) is to create a more equitable network with more frequent service, better connections, and more all-day service every day. While there are some changes that benefit Somerville, there’s also…
The Better Bus Project's goal is to create a more equitable network with more frequent service, better connections, and more all-day service every day. The new proposed bus map is now available at MBTA.com/BNRD and it would mean many changes for Somerville riders. STEP will be analyzing the proposal and sharing our thoughts. There will be opportunities to provide your own…
We in Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) can appreciate that the MBTA is going through difficult financial stresses due to the loss of ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. And, that like other transit systems across the US, the agency is trying to find ways to stem the continuing loss in revenue through the proposed Forging Ahead plan. However, we are alarmed about the harm those cuts will do regionally both during the pandemic and long term.
The current challenges transit-dependent front-line workers face are enormous and must be met. In the near term, front line workers throughout the metro area who rely on the MBTA to get to work, already commute in a stressful, potentially hazardous environment, often working late hours and taking multiple modes of transit. The proposed service cuts will disproportionately affect those workers, who don’t have jobs that can be done from home. The fact that the buses and subway cars aren’t crowded currently is a good thing to minimize the spread of the virus.
(more…)The MBTA is proposing some big changes in its Better Bus plan, and if you have comments, send them by March 13. Bus #89: removal of service to/from Clarendon Hill, increased frequency to/from Davis Sq.Bus #90: removal of service to Wellington, new terminus at Assembly Sq., shifting the stop away from the Sullivan Sq T station to Lombardi WayBus #95: removal…
The City presented plans for its Winter Hill in Motion project, which will include a dedicated bus/bike lane, bus stop consolidation, signal timing changes, and new pavement marking and signs. View the slides from the meeting.
"More Routes = More Riders" (CityLab) According to a new study by researchers at McGill University’s department of urban planning, transit agencies are repelling riders by shrinking routes and schedules on buses in particular. “The more service a transit authority provides (measured as the number of kilometers driven annually by public transit vehicles—VRK), the more transit trips it will attract.”