Transit Priority Projects
Our Transit Priority program is working to make bus service more reliable and efficient. We’re collaborating with municipalities in Greater Boston to design streets that prioritize transit. This project page details where we are designing and constructing transit priority projects today and provides examples of completed projects that are already improving bus service across Greater Boston.
Learn more about our Transit Priority Strategy
To learn more about ongoing and finished projects, jump to the relevant section below:
Current Transit Priority Projects
We’re partnering with local municipalities to expand transit priority streets in Greater Boston. Several of these projects currently underway will support Phase 1 service changes for the Bus Network Redesign. They focus on areas with chronic delay issues and high ridership.
Several projects are currently under construction or planned for the 2024 construction season. Project timelines may vary depending on coordination with municipalities, permitting, and construction vendors. This season’s transit priority projects include the following, with additional efforts underway. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated periodically.
Last updated July 24, 2024.
| Location | Street | Status | Description | Routes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Arlington | Street | Massachusetts Ave, Varnum St - Alewife Brook Pkwy | Status | Construction | Description | Bus and bike lane | Routes | 77, 350 |
| Location | Arlington | Street | TSP upgrades | Status | Design | Description | Transit Signal Priority upgrades | Routes | Various locations |
| Location | Boston | Street | Blue Hill Ave | Status | Design | Description | Center-running bus lanes | Routes | 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 31, 45 |
| Location | Boston | Street | Columbus Avenue Center-running Bus Lanes (Phase 2) | Status | Design | Description | Center-running bus lanes | Routes | 14, 15, 22, 23, 28, 41, 44, 45, 66 |
| Location | Boston | Street | SL3 Busway Signal-Central Avenue at Eastern Avenue | Status | Design | Description | Transit Signal Priority | Routes | SL3 112 |
| Location | Brookline | Street | Gateway East | Status | Construction | Description | Transit Signal Priority, bus lane | Routes | 60, 65, 66 |
| Location | Cambridge | Street | TSP upgrades | Status | Design | Description | Transit Signal Priority upgrades | Routes | Various locations |
| Location | Everett | Street | Chelsea Street | Status | Design | Description | Queue jump | Routes | 110, 112 |
| Location | Everett, Chelsea | Street | Second Street | Status | Design | Description | Bus lane | Routes | 104 |
| Location | Revere | Street | Broadway under Revere Beach Parkway | Status | Construction | Description | Bus lane, 4 - 9 AM | Routes | 116, 117 |
| Location | Somerville | Street | TSP upgrades | Status | Design | Description | Transit Signal Priority upgrades | Routes | Various locations |
| Location | Somerville | Street | Washington Street | Status | Construction | Description | Bus lane | Routes | 86, 91, CT2 |
In addition to these MBTA-led projects, the City of Boston is working on transit priority projects for Lost Village, Route 57 Transit Priority Corridor, Route 39 Transit Priority Corridor, and the Back Bay neighborhood. The City of Cambridge is working on transit priority projects for River Street and Mass Ave.
Completed Transit Priority Projects
In collaboration with our partners, we've started implementing transit priority measures around Greater Boston. We have already installed over 40 miles of bus lanes and activated transit signal priority (TSP) at more than 85 locations. In some cases, these projects were led by the MBTA in partnership with municipalities, and in others, municipalities took the lead with support from the MBTA.
Featured Projects
View these projects to find out where you can see transit priority in action in your neighborhood.
Broadway Curbside Bus/Bike Lane
Revere, completed 2022
A 1-mile curbside bus lane was installed in the City of Revere on Broadway, running southbound between Revere Street and Revere Beach Parkway during morning peak hours. This project has improved bus service by reducing congestion delays in a high-traffic area. Additional safety improvements are planned for the corridor, to be completed by 2026. The project serves Routes 116 and 117.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Part-Time Shared Bus/Bike Lane
Columbus Avenue Center-running Bus Lanes (Phase 1)
Boston, completed 2021
Center-running bus lanes were added in both directions on Columbus Avenue from Jackson Square to Walnut Street to serve MBTA Routes 22, 29, and 44. There are boarding platforms in the median with shelters, seating, and real-time arrival signs.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Center-running Bus Lanes
Broadway Shared Bus/Bike Lane
Chelsea, completed 2020
The City of Chelsea piloted a shared bus/bike lane on Broadway from 5th Street to 3rd Street in 2020, which was later formalized as a permanent design. They found the shared bus/bike lane led to fewer crashes, faster travel times for buses, higher bus ridership, and more cyclists, with a minimal increase in vehicular delay on Broadway. The project serves Routes 111, 112, 114, 116, and 117.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Shared Bus/Bike Lane
North Washington Street Shared Bus/Bike Lane (Outbound)
Boston, completed 2019
A shared bus/bike lane was added to North Washington Street near North Station to improve bus service. The project serves Routes 92, 93, and 111 and resulted in a 40% reduction in travel times for riders.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Shared Bus/Bike Lanes
Broadway Shared Bus/Bike Lane
Somerville, complete 2019
Shared bus/bike lanes were installed on Broadway in Somerville from Main Street to McGrath Highway, complemented by transit signal priority, pavement markings, and signage. The City of Somerville reported an average of 30% higher ridership after the bus lanes were installed. The project serves Routes 89 and 101. The City of Somerville is currently working to extend the bus lanes further east on Broadway to Minnesota Avenue.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Shared Bus/Bike Lane Transit Signal Priority
Brighton Avenue Parking Offset Bus Lane
Boston, completed 2019
MBTA and the City of Boston implemented a 0.6-mile parking-offset bus/bike lane in both directions on Brighton Avenue, in the Allston/Brighton area between Cambridge Street and Commonwealth Avenue. The project reduced travel times by 20 - 25% during peak periods for more than 14,000 riders each day. It serves Routes 57 and 66 and more than 1,300 daily bike riders.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Parking Offset Bus Lane
Massachusetts Avenue Part-Time Bus Lanes
Arlington, completed 2019
Shared bus/bike lanes were installed on Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington from Lake Street to Alewife Brook Parkway. They have improved bus service through morning traffic, operating from 6 AM to 9 AM Monday through Friday. This project serves Routes 77, 79, and 350.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Shared Bus/Bike Lane Transit Signal Priority
Summer Street Shared Bus/Bike Lane
Boston, completed 2019
This shared bus/bike lane runs inbound along Summer Street from Dorchester Avenue to Atlantic Avenue in the Financial District. It serves Routes 4 and 7.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Shared Bus/Bike Lane
Silver Line Fixed Guideway
Boston and Chelsea, completed 2018
In Boston, Silver Line 3 (SL3) operates through Chelsea in a fixed guideway next to a rail corridor, with connections to the airport and multiple rail and bus routes. This is an example of maximum bus priority, with the busway on a street completely separated from other vehicular traffic. It features stations with sheltered waiting areas, raised boarding platforms, and canopied bike racks.
Bus Priority Tools:
- Fixed Guideway
Broadway Part-Time Bus Lane
Everett, completed 2016
In 2016, the City of Everett piloted a morning peak bus/bike lane on a one mile stretch of Broadway’s inbound parking lane. Transit times were reduced by 20 – 30%, saving riders up to eight minutes each. With public support, the lane was made permanent, and an outbound afternoon peak lane was added. The project serves Routes 97, 104, 109, 110, and 112.
Bus Priority Tools
- Part-Time Bus Lane
These transit priority projects are in operation today, either as completed projects or active pilots. Some projects may receive additional infrastructure in the future, like transit signal priority. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated periodically.
Contact Us
For questions and comments related to Transit Priority, please contact the Better Bus Project at betterbusproject@mbta.com.
