Key Bus Route Improvement Program

Updated November 2012

Program Overview

The MBTA has designated 15 of our busiest bus routes as “Key Bus Routes”. Each Key Bus Route operates at a high frequency, 7 days a week, to meet passenger demand in high-density corridors. Service operates every 10 minutes or better during weekday peak periods, every 15 minutes or better during weekday midday, and every 20 minutes or better during off-peak periods.

The goal of the Key Bus Route Improvement Program is to improve the overall quality of service for customers on these Key Bus Routes by reducing trip times; enhancing customer comfort, convenience and safety and making the bus service more reliable and cost-effective. The 15 Key Bus Routes to be improved as part of this Program are: Routes 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 32, 39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77, 111, 116, and 117.

In order to meet the goal of the Key Bus Route Improvement Program the following objectives have been identified:

- Enhance bus stop accessibility — for all customers including seniors and persons with disabilities - Improve bus service reliability — less bus bunching - Enable faster service — fewer delays, less stops and reduced overall trip times - Provide better passenger amenities — shelters, benches, signage, trash barrels

Types of Improvements

Utilizing $10 million in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) the MBTA now has the opportunity to implement the Key Bus Route Improvement Program.  This one-time opportunity to improve service quality will be accomplished by implementing a combination of the following on the identified Key Bus Routes:

- Bus stop location improvements, including bus stop consolidation, which may result in the elimination or relocation of some bus stops
- Transit signal priority and designated queue jump lanes
- Curb extensions
- Accessibility enhancements
- Bus stop amenities

Program Outline and Schedule

The Key Bus Route Improvement Program involves extensive public outreach with participation invited from customers, community representatives and Municipalities served by each bus route. 

The public process for all routes has been completed. Early design plans for Routes 23 and 39 are completed, with construction anticipated to start in 2013.  Design plans for Routes 1, 15, 22, 28, 32, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77,111, 116 and 117 are at various stages of completion, and improvements are scheduled to be implemented in 2013.

The table below lists the routes, municipalities served, and project schedule. 

Upcoming Meetings

All anticipated community meetings have been completed at this time. 

For other MBTA meetings please go to www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/

Comments and Feedback

For comments and feedback on your route please email keybusroutes@mbta.com or mail them to MBTA Project Director for Operations, 45 High St, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.

Current Related Documents

  

For archived recommendations and presentations please click here.