As part of the MBTA‘s Better Bus Project, changes will be made to bus routes to improve service. I have copied information from the MBTA regarding changes to routes in Senator Brownsberger’s district:
From the MBTA:
On December 22, 2019, the second round of Better Bus Project service changes will go into effect. The first round of service changes started September 1, 2019.
52:
December 22, 2019, all Route 52 service will travel via Parker St, Wheeler Rd, and Meadowbrook Rd.
Learn more about changes to Route 52
64:
Starting December 22, 2019, Route 64 will travel all day on weekdays between Central and Kendall, and will shift to Brooks St in Brighton.
Learn more about changes to Route 64
61, 70, and 70A:
Starting December 22, 2019, Route 70A will be eliminated and will be replaced by a new, simplified Route 61, and additional service on Route 70.
Learn more about changes to Routes 70 and 70A
71:
Starting December 22, 2019, Route 71 service includes new, short trips in the AM peak to Aberdeen Ave and PM peak to Harvard Square.
Learn more about changes to Route 71
72:
Starting December 22, 2019, Route 72 will operate inbound-only 6:45 – 9:30 AM and outbound-only 2:45 – 7:15 PM.
Learn more about changes to Route 72
72, 74, 75, 78:
Starting December 22, 2019, routes are shifting on the 72, 74, 75, and schedules are changing on the 72, 74, 75, and 78.
Learn more about changes to Routes 72, 74, 75, 78
The first round of changes occurred on September 1, 2019:
1 & CT1:
Starting September 1, 2019, Route CT1 will be eliminated. Most CT1 stops are served by the Route 1 bus.
Learn more about changes to Route CT1
59
Starting September 1, 2019, Route 59 will travel on Elliot St only during peak travel times in the peak direction. At other times, buses will serve only the Needham St part of the route.
Learn more about changes to Route 59
501, 502, 503 and 504
Starting September 1, 2019, Routes 502 and 504 will no longer stop in Newton Corner on outbound trips during PM peak service. Routes 501 and 503 will stop at Newton Corner.
Learn more about changes to Routes 501, 502, 503 and 504
See all September 1, 2019 changes here: https://mbta.com/projects/better-bus-project/update/first-round-better-bus-changes-start-september-1
There will be additional changes in the coming months. See all Better Bus Project proposals here: https://www.mbta.com/projects/better-bus-project/update/our-proposals-better-bus-service
Andrew Bettinelli
Chief of Staff
Office of Senator William N. Browsberger
Thanks for your attention to bus ridership issues, it’s appreciated. In a previous post Senator Brownsberger shared correspondence from MBTA staff saying that the busway work would have to be deferred and the 71 would resume using the busway in “late December”. Any word on whether that is still their plan? The MBTA never put out any public information reflecting what they communicated in that update, that I could find.
This is what we have heard from the project manager: “Yes, the boarding will go back to how it was before construction started. We are planning to make the change on December 22, but we have to pass all the inspections this week and catenary testing this Saturday. We won’t know until the last minute as we are still completing work, but we are pushing to make this happen by December 22.”
Yes, route 71 and 73 buses/trackless trolley trips are now entering the busway tunnels as of Dec. 22, which is much appreciated by all and even got some clapping and cheers on my trip Sunday morning. Thanks to Senator Brownsberger for his attention to the plight of MBTA passengers in his district and beyond. A Merry Christmas to him and his family and all the passengers I meet on the T.