MBTA proposes more bus trips, better connections
The MBTA released a new draft bus network map on Monday as part of its proposed redesign.
The plan aims to create more equitable service by increasing trips in busy neighborhoods, establishing new connections to more destinations and creating more all-day service.
The proposal includes an increase in bus service by 25 percent overall, with 70 percent more service on weekends. The proposed high-frequency service, which is 15 minutes or less between buses, would be closer to 275,000 more residents, according to the MBTA.
“We’re very excited to share these bold improvements to the MBTA bus system. Our draft network map has been redesigned to provide more equitable service that best meets the needs of where riders live, work, and travel now and in the future,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said in a statement. “We aim to reinvigorate the whole bus system through a redesign of our bus routes, 25 percent more service on weekdays and even more on weekends, and increased bus service frequency for hundreds of thousands of riders.”
The MBTA says more than 100,000 residents of color and 40,000 low-income housholds would gain access to high-frequency service.
Hundreds of thousands more residents would gain access to speedy service to the Longwood Medical Area and the South Boston Waterfront, and tens of thousands more would be able to reach Back Bay and Kendall Square, according to the MBTA.
“I’m pleased to see the MBTA making transgenerational improvements to the bus system – the big changes the MBTA aims to make to bus service put equity at the forefront, providing hundreds of thousands of riders more bus service to low income communities and communities of color,” state Rep. Russell Holmes said in a statement. “I’m grateful to be part of today’s map launch and excited for the many improvements to come to bus service through this redesign.”
The MBTA is collecting public feedback and will announce a final network this fall. It will be implemented in phases over five years, starting as early as spring 2023.
Visit mbta.com/BNRD for more information and to view the map.
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