The MBTA recently released the 2014 Blue Book – a compendium of statistics, facts and figures about MBTA service systemwide. In light of recent conversations about bus capacity in Watertown, I decided to take a closer look at the statistics in the new Blue Book for routes serving Watertown:
Watertown is currently served by 10 total MBTA bus routes, below is the average weekday ridership for each route and where it ranks out of 169 total bus routes.
Route Boardings Rank
52 766 126th
57/57A 10,094 9th
59 1,497 88th
71 5,548 21st
73 6,424 14th
502 1,206 104th
504 1,548 86th
554 649 131st
558 429 144th
Additional statistics from the four busiest routes in Watertown:
57 Watertown Square – Kenmore Square
The 57A only operates during peak periods and does not serve Watertown. This accounts for the slight decrease in service to Watertown Yard during peak times.
57 Round Trip Length: 11.32 miles
AM Peak 8 vehicles – 10/11 minute headways
AM Base 9 vehicles – 10 minute headways
PM Peak 9 vehicles – 11/12 minute headways
PM Base 10 vehicles – 9/10 minute headways
57A Round Trip Length: 7.83 miles
AM Peak 6 vehicles – 10/11 minute headways
PM Peak 7 vehicles – 11/12 minute headways
70/70A Cedarwood – University Park, Cambridge/North Waltham-University Park, Cambridge
The 70/70A functions as a single route through Watertown but it is important to note that it splits in Waltham and serves two different sections of town.
70A Round Trip Length: 29.03 miles
AM Peak 5 vehicles – 30 minute headways
AM Base 2 vehicles – 60 minute headways
PM Peak 5 vehicles – 30 minute headways
PM Base 3 vehicles – 60 minute headways
70 Round Trip Length: 19.07 miles
AM Peak 7 vehicles – 15 minute headways
AM Base 5 vehicles – 25 minute headways
PM Peak 8 vehicles – 15 minute headways**
PM Base 5 vehicles – 25 minute headways
**I extrapolated this information, there are two additional buses that turn around in Waltham Center during PM Peak that run on 30 minute headways, I combined this with the rest of the 70 route, which has 6 vehicles running on 15/20 minute headways. This should roughly reflect the experience of a Watertown commuter.
71 Watertown Square – Harvard Square
Round Trip Length: 7.44 miles
AM Peak 9 vehicles – 7 minute headways
AM Base 4 vehicles – 15 minute headways
PM Peak 7 vehicles – 9 minute headways
PM Base 6 vehicles – 10 minute headways
73 Waverly Square – Harvard Square
Round Trip Length: 8.13 miles
AM Peak 12 vehicles – 6 minute headways
AM Base 4 vehicles – 15 minute headways
PM Peak 11 vehicles – 5 minute headways
PM Base 5 vehicles – 11/13 minute headways
What other information would be helpful? I’ll continue to post more here if anyone has any questions!
Andrew Bettinelli
Legislative Aide
Office of State Senator William N. Brownsberger
Good work, Andy. Much appreciated. Since you asked for input …
1) How statistics for the Green Line? As a side note I don’t detect that there is any schedule at all for these trains. Particularly the C line seems to come and go at random.
2) How about numbers for the 86 to and from Cleveland Circle?
3) It would be interesting to see farebox revenue on each line. My observation is that up to 20% of riders never pay a fare. Dividing total farebox revenue by total ridership by would indicate where fares are not being collected.
Cheers, Scott
We’ll get back to you shortly with additional data!
Thank you for this information.
I am on the 71 to Harvard every morning and afternoon. My only real issue is waiting for the 71 bus in the evening rush hour at Harvard and watching three, sometimes four ( I am NOT exaggerating) 73 buses pull out for Belmont. One of them might be near capacity but since the next two or three arrive within a few minutes, those have a dozen or fewer passengers. Meanwhile, the lone 71 bus eventually shows up and it is a rugby scrum to get on it. We all know the next 71 wont’t be showing up for a while. Why is there such great service for the 73 route and poor service for the 71?