MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program. Community Meeting Route 57 - Boston. January 31, 2011 Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich St.

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1 MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program Community Meeting Route 57 - Boston January 31, 2011 Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich St., Boston Agenda Welcome and introductions Safety briefing/accommodations Key Bus Route Program overview Existing conditions Route 57 Preliminary recommendations Next Steps Discussion 2

2 Introduction 15 Key Bus Routes $10 million funding 3 Key Bus Route Goals Reliability less bus bunching Faster service fewer delays, less stops, shorter trip times Improved accessibility for seniors and persons with disabilities Passenger amenities shelters, benches, signage, trash barrels 4

3 Route 57: Overview Watertown Yard / Oak Sq to Kenmore Sta Via Newton Cnr, Brighton Ctr, Union Sq & Packard s Cnr. BU, Agganis Arena, Fenway Park, St. Elizabeth s Medical Center 5.7 miles long Run Time Varies by Time of Day (approx min) Connects to: Green Line & 17 Bus Routes KBR 66, 71 Route 57: Overview MBTA s 5 th Busiest Route Over 11,500 daily boardings Peak Hour Headways Every 6-10 minutes On-Time Performance 71% weekdays Source: MBTA s 2008 Biennial Service Plan 86 stops 44 Inbound (to Kenmore) 42 Outbound (to Watertown)

4 Typical Conditions - Bus stop length too short Typical Conditions - Poorly located boarding area

5 Typical Conditions - Proximity of bus stops Signage 10

6 Bus Stop Spacing Ideal spacing is 4-7 stops per mile (every 750-1,320 ft) (4-6 minutes walking distance) Route 57 has stops as close as 330 ft 11 Factors for Improving Stop Locations Ridership customer boardings and alightings Proximity to schools, medical centers etc Distance to adjacent stops Reducing traffic congestion Parking impacts Potential to add amenities shelters, benches etc. 12

7 Bus Stop Consolidation Benefits Shortens bus trip times Improves service reliability Minimizes stop & go experience Provides additional parking spaces Ability to provide better stop amenities 13 Good bus stop locations: Sufficient length to pull to the curb Clear boarding/alighting area Not blocking crosswalks or driveways Proper Spacing Considerate of adjacent traffic 14 1/19/2011

8 Improved Accessibility Legal Mandate All bus doors must open at curb Deter cars from parking in stops Providing accessible curb access requires longer bus stops Bus Stops must meet Current Guidelines for 40 buses Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence 15 Farside 60ft Nearside 80ft Required Bus Stop Lengths 40 bus 16 Midblock (or after left hand turn) 100ft

9 Add Pavement Markings Improved Passenger Comfort & Convenience Install shelters where possible Weather protection, seating, comfort New street furniture Shelters, benches, trash barrels 18

10 New Bus Shelters 19 Rest on a New Bench 20

11 Example : Before & After Bus Stop Improvements Proposed Proposed with Amenities Improving Customer Information 22

12 Clear Customer Information Sign upgrades Schedules at stops Maps on buses Neighborhood maps Next bus countdown system 23 Reliability Issues 24

13 Improving Reliability 25 1/19/2011 Traffic Signal Improvements

14 Preliminary Recommendations 27 Tremont Tip Top Remove stops to improve bus stop spacing and due to insufficient bus stop length

15 Washington Fairbanks St Consolidate with Montfern Ave to nearside of Oak Square Ave. 977 Proposed Washington Brock St Lengthen stop. Add trash receptacle

16 Washington Foster St IB Relocate farside. Add bench & trash receptacle. 917 Proposed 31 Washington Market St & Leicester St. Consolidate at Market St farside. Add shared right turn/bus lane in former Market St stop location Proposed

17 Washington Waldo Ter Relocate to farside. Add bench (with abutter permission) & trash receptacle Proposed Cambridge Warren St IB Remove stop to improve bus stop spacing. 34 February 1, 2011 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence

18 Cambridge Eleanor St & Dustin St. Remove stop due to low ridership and to improve bus stop spacing Cambridge Gordon St IB Relocate stop back from intersection. 924 Proposed 36

19 Brighton Linden St & Harvard Ave. Remove stops to improve bus stop spacing Packards Corner Consolidate inbound stops and remove outbound stop to improve spacing and provide amenities proposed

20 Comm Agganis Way Remove stop to improve bus stop spacing and poorly located bus stop Comm Pleasant St IB Consolidate with St Paul to improve bus stop spacing and provide a safer bus stop location. Add shelter, bench, & trash receptacle. 934 Proposed

21 Comm Armory St Remove stop due to low ridership and proximity of next stop 955 Summary of Preliminary Recommendations Add shelters, benches, trash receptacles Stops lengthened for accessibility Stops relocated Stops consolidated Current Stop Plan 44 IB/ 42 OB Proposed Stop Plan 30 IB/ 29 OB Investigating traffic signal improvements Sidewalk improvements/curb extensions 42 1/19/2011

22 Public Outreach 43 44

23 Comments and Next Steps Project Updates at Mail to Operations and Service Development, 45 High St, Boston, MA to Next community meeting Route 66: February 2, 6:30 PM Brookline Town Hall, 333 Washington St. Discussion 45 Community Meeting Dates 46

24 Discussion These are PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS We want to hear from you! 48