Quincy Bus Route 216 Service Changes
In the winter of 2020, we combined Routes 214 and 216 into a single Route 216 to serve two peninsulas in Quincy and the trunk that connects them. Although some sections of the route take longer to travel, we now provide regular service to all stops with just 13 minutes between buses.
Some riders have asked whether splitting into two routes during peak travel times using our existing resources would improve service. Let’s consider two scenarios.
Split the Route, Double the Wait
If we split the route in two again, riders who miss a bus to or from one of the peninsulas would wait up to 30 minutes for another.
For example, Young-Soo, who used to ride the 214 bus, now rides the 216. Young-Soo takes his daughter to daycare in Germantown from his home in Quincy Center on weekdays. He often has trouble getting his toddler out of the house on time.
When they miss a bus, Young-Soo only needs to wait 13 minutes for the next bus. He travels to the daycare, drops off his daughter, and though his bus travels through Hough's Neck on the return trip, he's back home within the hour.
If the routes were split, Young-Soo could lose a half hour while waiting for the next bus at Quincy Center, and potentially another while waiting for his return bus from Germantown.
Twice as Many Departures, but More Time on the Bus
We run Route 216 buses four times an hour. If we split into two routes, we could only run them twice each hour.
This would be less convenient for riders like Maya, who takes the bus from Hough’s Neck to Quincy Center and back three times a week. Before the pandemic, she took the old 216 bus (which ran only between Quincy Center and Hough’s Neck). The new outbound route takes her through Germantown, which adds eight minutes to her trip.
Maya would like to avoid that extra time on the bus, but more frequent departures give her more flexibility each day. If we split into two routes, Maya could wait up to 30 minutes for the next bus in each direction.
One Route or Two: Which Benefits More Riders?
We analyzed whether longer travel times were balanced by time saved waiting for buses for the majority of Route 216’s riders. It showed that more riders benefit from keeping the current single-route schedule instead of restoring two separate routes.
How We Make Routing Decisions
This winter, routes across the bus network have been adjusted with riders’ needs in mind. We’re making these changes so we can do the following:
- Preserve access to and quality of service for transit-critical communities
- Give riders more accurate estimates of bus arrival times
- Accommodate riders returning to in-person school or work
Winter 2022 Service Changes
Related Projects
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments about service changes, please contact MBTA Customer Support at 617-222-3200.