Better Bus Project: MBTA Releases Revised Bus Network Map

The Bus Network Redesign’s proposal for bus service will create a more equitable network with more frequent service, better connections, and more all-day service every day.

New revised Bus Network Map is available at mbta.com/BNRD.

Today the MBTA released a revised Bus Network Map, which is also available at mbta.com/BNRD. The Revised Network Map was developed based on feedback received on the Draft Bus Network Map released in May 2022.

“We are pleased with the progress made by the MBTA to improve bus service for riders after launching Bus Network Redesign, and reaching out to customers and community leaders for feedback through public meetings, in-person contact, and online engagement,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. “These transformative changes for bus riders included within the Revised Map reflect where people want to travel in today’s world to critical destinations like schools, retail areas, hospitals, and senior centers. The Bus Network Redesign Project continues to build upon the MBTA’s efforts to invest in better, more equitable transit.”

“We listened to our riders during the public feedback process, and we’re excited to today share the revised and redesigned bus network map that incorporates and reflects the many thousands of comments we received,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “This new and revised bus network continues to represent bold improvements to the MBTA bus system, and provides more equitable service to our current and future riders. With the goal of modernizing the bus network through this redesign, this revised map also preserves direct rides to many locations throughout the service area, improves access to critical services like hospitals, and provides 25% more service than the existing network. We thank our community of riders for sharing their comments with us and helping us to shape the future of MBTA bus service.”

In May 2022, the Bus Network Redesign Project released a Draft Bus Network Map and sought public feedback. Over the spring and summer, over 20,000 comments were received on the Draft Bus Network Map. The Project team has reviewed and incorporated that feedback into the Revised Bus Network that is being released today.

The Revised Bus Network continues to increase service by 25% across the system and doubles the number of high frequency corridors, which are defined as corridors in which buses arrive every 15 minutes or better throughout the entirety of the service day, seven days a week.

Information about the updated bus network is available at mbta.com/BNRD, which includes:

A static Regional Map that shows the proposed redesigned bus network at a regional level.
An interactive Remix map, which allows users to zoom in and out, pan around, and click on specific routes to get detailed information about schedules and runtime.
A table of changes by route number from the proposed map that was released in May 2022 and the updated map.

Updates from the May 2022 Proposed Bus Network

Changes were made to 85 of the 133 proposed bus routes that were part of the May 2022 Draft Bus Network. These changes include new routing, restoration of existing routes, addition or subtraction of proposed routes, extensions of routes, and modifications to route schedules.

Changes were made for five primary reasons:

To respond to public feedback received on the draft bus network proposal.
To improve access to hospitals, senior centers, and other destinations.
To reduce walking distances for seniors and other riders, and to reduce walking in locations with challenging topography.
To preserve existing one-seat rides to many destinations.
To balance resources, stay within the limit of buses available during peak times, and to stay within the overall service limit of 25% more service above the existing network.

A complete list and description of changes is available at mbta.com/BNRD.

Next steps for the Project include the virtual public meeting on November 2 at 6 PM, the completion of the Equity Analysis of the Revised Bus Network currently underway by December
2022, and a public meeting to discuss the Revised Bus Network Equity Analysis to be held this winter 2022/2023.

More about Bus Network Redesign

The Greater Boston area has substantially evolved with new employment districts, shifting demographics, and traffic increases while the bus network has stayed largely the same. Transit is essential to the region’s economy and bus service serves the MBTA’s most transit-dependent populations. It is essential that the MBTA’s bus network adapts to change.

An initiative of the Better Bus Project, MassDOT and the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign Project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make bold improvements to the MBTA’s bus network for the people that depend on it most. Bus Network Redesign completely re-imagines the bus network to reflect the travel needs of the region today, creating a better experience for current and future riders while prioritizing equity and the needs of those who depend on frequent, reliable bus service.