Our Proposals for Better Bus Service
Updated on January 28, 2019
Earlier this year, the MBTA began working with communities and community leaders to better understand the gaps in our current bus service network, as part of the Better Bus Project.
We collected feedback from than 3,000 bus riders, as well as bus operators and community leaders—and we used it to inform 47 proposals for near-term changes to 63 routes.
Additionally, this research informed the 2018 State of the Bus System, the 2018 Market Analysis, and route profiles for all 180 routes across 35 communities.
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
About the Proposals
Before we can make substantial service changes, we need to make simple changes that will enable better service per dollar invested when it’s time to add more buses, drivers, and garages.
These proposals focus on consolidating duplicate routes and improving the space available at bus stops. We estimate these changes will save up to 2,000 passenger hours every weekday, and result in positive changes for as many as 30,000 bus riders. These are good, long-overdue changes, and together they lay the foundation for a bus network that provides more frequent, reliable service in the Greater Boston area.
Review these proposals below and submit feedback online or at one of 8 community meetings, 7 open houses at MBTA stations, or to one of the 6 Street Teams at MBTA stations in January through March.
- Download proposals in English
- Download proposals in French
- Download proposals in Spanish
- Download proposals in Haitian Creole
- Download proposals in Portuguese
- Download proposals in Traditional Chinese
- Download proposals in Simplified Chinese
- Download proposals in Vietnamese
Spring 2019 Update
The public comment period closed on March 13. Over 6 weeks of intensive public engagement, we spoke with over 2,500 riders at 75 engagements through our street teams, and at meetings and briefings.
We collected 3,500 discrete comments about the original 47 near-term proposals, and this feedback allowed us to consider issues that were not previously identified.
Related Projects
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.