MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program Community Meeting Route 1 - Boston United South End Settlement Agenda Welcome and introductions Safety briefing/accommodations Key Bus Route Program overview Existing conditions Recommendations Next Steps Discussion 2 1
Introduction Enhancements to 15 Key Bus Routes Funded by $10 million ARRA grant 3 Implementation Process Coordination with municipalities Development of initial concepts Community meetings Incorporation of public comments Refinement of concepts and final community buy-in Final design and construction 4 2
Project Schedule Bus Route 1 Develop Concept Jan/ Feb Apr Jun 2012 Mar Finalize Plan Engineering Implementation Public Process 5 1/19 1/20 2/2 3/8 6/13 6/14 Key Bus Route Goals Reliability less bus bunching Faster service fewer delays, less stops, shorter trip times Improved accessibility p Passenger amenities for seniors and persons with disabilities shelters, benches, signage, trash receptacles 6 3
Key Bus Routes 7 Typical Conditions Bus stop too short Signage issues Poorly located boarding area 8 Bus stops too close 4
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 9 9 Farside 60ft Nearside 80ft Required Bus Stop Lengths 10 Midblock (or after left hand turn) 100ft 5
Reliability Issues Bus bunching Overcrowding On-time performance 11 Preferred Bus Stop Locations Sufficient length to allow buses to pull to the curb Clear boarding/alighting area Not blocking crosswalks or driveways Considerate of adjacent traffic Appropriate distance between stops 12 6
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 Spacing Ideal spacing is 4-7 stops per mile (every 750-1,320 ft) (4-6 minutes walking distance) Route 1 has stops as close as 260 ft 70 71 14 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 15 Traffic Signal Improvements Provide advance green time for buses Reduce overall congestion Requires coordination with roadway authority 16 8
Improved Amenities Trash receptacles Shelters 17 Benches Pavement markings Improving Customer Information 18 9
Route 1: Overview Harvard Square to Dudley Station Via Mass Ave, Central Sq. Cambridge, and South End Harvard University, MIT, Boston Medical Center, Symphony Hall 5 miles long Run time varies by time of day (20-39 min.) Connects to: Red, Green, Orange & Silver Lines 30+ bus routes, including: KBR 15, 23, 28,39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77 19 Route 1: Overview MBTA s 4 th busiest route Over 12,300 avg. daily boardings Peak Hour Headways Every 7-9 minutes On-time performance 65% weekdays Source:MBTA s 2008 Biennial Service Plan 69 stops 35 inbound (to Dudley) 34 outbound (to Harvard) 20 10
Proposed Recommendations (updated) 21 30% Design Plans 22 11
Farside 60ft Nearside 80ft Required Bus Stop Lengths 23 Midblock (or after left hand turn) 100ft Boston Improvements 24 12
Dudley Square Area 25 Melnea Cass @ Harrison Ave Relocate IB stop farside, install concrete landing pad. 10101 Proposed 26 13
Melnea Cass @ Harrison Ave Relocate IB stop farside, install concrete landing pad. 27 Albany St @ Melnea Cass Blvd IB Relocate stop to farside of Randall St. Investigate signal improvements and pavement markings. Proposed 10100 28 14
Albany St @ Melnea Cass Blvd IB Relocate stop to farside of Randall St. Investigate signal improvements and pavement markings. 29 Albany Street Consider outbound via Hampden St 30 15
Albany St @ Northampton St Remove stops to improve bus stop spacing and due to low ridership 10099 10004 31 Mass Ave Reconstruction Area St Botolph St to Albany St 32 16
Mass Ave @ Harrison & Albany Maintain both stops, despite close proximity. Add amenities. 33 Mass Ave @ Harrison Ave IB/OB Add pavement markings, and shorten OB stop. 854 58 34 17
Mass Ave @ Washington St OB Add pavement markings and amenities. 10590 35 Mass Ave @ Shawmut Ave Remove IB and OB stops to provide better bus stop spacing. 85 86 36 18
Mass Ave @ Columbus Ave Proposal to remove IB and OB stops is withdrawn. Add OB pavement markings. 88 83 37 Mass Ave @ Mass Ave Station Pavement markings/crossing improvements. 38 June Leading 13, 2011 the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot 19
Mass Ave @ Christian Science OB Consolidate Westland Ave with Clearway St. Construct landing area and add shelter and pavement markings. 90 Proposed 39 91 Mass Ave @ Christian Science OB Consolidate Westland Ave with Clearway St. Construct landing area and add shelter and pavement markings. 40 20
Mass Ave @ Christian Science IB Consolidate Christian Science Center with Westland Ave. Add shelter, trash receptacle and pavement markings. 81 Proposed 41 80 Mass Ave @ Christian Science IB Consolidate Christian Science Center with Westland Ave. Add shelter, trash receptacle and pavement markings. 42 21
Mass Ave @ Belvidere St Remove stop to provide better bus stop spacing and improve pedestrian and vehicle flow. 92 43 Mass Ave @ Boylston Street Investigate shared bus/right turn lane Outbound Inbound 44 June Leading 13, 2011 the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot 22
Mass Ave @ Hynes/Newbury St Repair sidewalk; consider adding bus lane. 79 45 Mass Ave @ Hynes/Newbury St Relocate OB stop closer to Green Line Station. Add pavement markings, bus lane, and bus advance signal. 93 Proposed 46 23
Mass Ave @ Hynes/Newbury St Relocate OB stop closer to Green Line Station. Add bus lane and TSP. 47 Mass Ave @ Comm Ave Remove inbound/outbound stops and relocate shelters 78 48 Leading the Nation in Transportation 94 Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot 24
Mass Ave @ Beacon Street Retain stops. Investigate shelter at OB stop. 95 49 77 Summary of Preliminary Recommendations Add benches, trash receptacles, pavement markings, shelters Stops lengthened for accessibility Stops relocated Stops Consolidated Current Stop Plan 36 IB/33 OB Proposed Stop Plan 28 IB/26 OB Investigating traffic signal improvements Sidewalk Improvements 50 25
Summary of Preliminary Recommendations IB OB Total Total existingstops 36 33 69 Existing stops lengthened 3 4 7 Existing stops relocated 3 2 5 Proposed stops 28 26 54 Proposed shelters 1 0 1 Proposed benches 2 0 2 Proposed trash receptacles 7 2 9 Parking added 36 33 69 Parking removed 3 4 7 51 Project Schedule Bus Route 1 Develop Concept Jan/ Feb Apr Jun 2012 Mar Finalize Plan Engineering Implementation Public Process 52 1/19 1/20 2/2 3/8 6/13 6/14 26
Public Outreach 53 54 27
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 Comments due by June 30, 2011 Next community meeting Route 1: June 14 Cambridge Senior Center Route 57: June 22 Boston Route 66: June 23 Mission Hill Discussion 55 Discussion We want to hear from you! 56 28