MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program Community Meeting Route 66 Allston/Brighton January 19, 2011 Honan-Allston Library 300 North Harvard Street Agenda Welcome and introductions Safety briefing/accommodations Key Bus Route Program overview Existing conditions Route 66 Preliminary recommendations Next Steps Discussion 2
Introduction 15 Key Bus Routes $10 million funding 3 Project Schedule Bus Route 66 Develop Concept Jan/ Feb Mar Apr Jun Oct Finalize Plan Engineering Implementation Public Process Jan 19 4
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 receptacles 5 Route 66: Overview Harvard Sq to Dudley Station Via Union Square, Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, and Brigham Circle Harvard University, Brigham & Women s Hospital, Reggie Lewis Center 6.2 miles long Schedule time varies by time of day (28-47 min.) Connects to: Red, Green, Orange & Silver Lines 26 bus routes, including: KBR 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 71, 73, 77 6
Route 66: Overview MBTA s 2 nd busiest route- Over 14,500 avg. daily boardings Peak Hour Headways Every 8-9 minutes On-time performance 66% Weekday Source: MBTA s 2008 Biennial Service Plan 84 Stops 43 Inbound (to Dudley Square) 41 Outbound (to Harvard Square) 7 Typical Conditions - Bus stop length too short 8
Typical Conditions - Poorly located boarding area 9 Typical Conditions - Proximity of bus stops 10
Typical Conditions - Signage Issues 11 Bus Stop Spacing Ideal spacing is 4-7 stops per mile (every 750-1,320 ft) (4-6 minutes walking distance) Route 66 has stops as close as 310 ft 12
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. 13 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 14
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 15 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 www.mass.gov/massdot 16
Farside 60ft Nearside 80ft Required Bus Stop Lengths 40 bus 17 Midblock (or after left hand turn) 100ft Add Pavement Markings 18
Improved Passenger Comfort & Convenience Install shelters where possible Weather protection, seating, comfort New street furniture Shelters, benches, trash barrels 19 New Bus Shelters 20
Rest on a New Bench 21 Example : Before & After Bus Stop Improvements Proposed Proposed with Amenities 22
Improving Customer Information 23 Clear Customer Information Sign upgrades Schedules at stops Maps on buses Neighborhood maps Next bus countdown system 24
Reliability Issues 25 Improving Reliability 26
Traffic Signal Improvements 27 Preliminary Recommendations 28
29 N. Harvard St at Oxford St Lengthen bus stop, add trash receptacle and pavement markings. 2559 30
2556 1191 Typical Conditions - Proximity of bus stops we are here 31 Cambridge Street @ N. Harvard/Lincoln Consolidate and relocate inbound stops 1191 32 32 1192
Cambridge Street OB @ Lincoln Street Investigate adding new stop. Cambridge St @ Franklin St Relocate to farside and add amenities 1193 34
Cambridge St @ Hano St Add bench, bus stop pavement markings 1195 35 Brighton Ave
Brighton Ave @ Craftsman Remove stop, and relocate shelter 1111 964 965 Brighton Ave @ Allston St Remove stop 927 926 928
Brighton Ave @ Harvard Ave Lengthen bus stop, add bench and trash receptacle 928 39 39 Harvard Ave @ Brighton Ave Relocate bus stop and investigate signal improvements 1379
Harvard Ave @ Comm Ave (Inbound) Add pavement markings and investigate signal improvements 1302 Summary of Preliminary Recommendations Add shelters, benches, trash receptacles Stops lengthened for accessibility Stops relocated Stops Consolidated Current Stop Plan 43 IB/41 OB Proposed Stop Plan 33 IB/36 OB Investigating traffic signal improvements Sidewalk Improvements/Curb Extensions 42
Public Outreach 43 44 44
Comments and Next Steps Project Updates at www.mbta.com/keybusroutes Mail to Operations and Service Development, 45 High St, Boston, MA 02110 Email to keybusroutes@mbta.com Next community meeting(s) Route 66 Thurs., January 20 th ; 6:30-8pm; Tobin Community Center, Mission Hill Wed., January 26 th ; 6:30-8pm: Brookline Town Hall Ongoing Discussion 45 Community Meeting Dates 46
Project Schedule Bus Route 66 Develop Concept Jan/ Feb Mar Apr Jun Oct Finalize Plan Engineering Implementation Public Process Jan 19 47 Discussion These are PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS We want to hear from you! 48