How to Improve Bus Service and Performance on Busy Corridors

A new report collects the lessons and best practices of several years of bus priority projects in the Boston region.

1 minute read

June 23, 2021, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Broadway Bus Lane in Everett

The Everett bus priority pilot project at work in December 2016. | Mayor Carlo DeMaria / Facebook

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)—the regional planning agency for the region surrounding in Boston in Massachusetts—has published a new report aimed sharing lessons and best practices for the implementation of bus infrastructure improvements.

"The guide lays out steps to help municipal staff, community leaders, and advocates launch successful bus improvements in high ridership, high delay corridors. These projects are important tools in achieving climate, equity, and transit goals, as well as improving quality of life for the thousands of people in our region," according to an MAPC website that promotes the new "Get it Rolling" report.

The "Get It Rolling" report distills information from six bus priority projects implemented around the region, including projects in Everett, Boston, Arlington, Cambridge, Watertown, and Somerville. Among those cities, Everett was the first to pilot a shared-bus bike lanes in the Greater Boston region since the creation of the Silver Line in Boston.

"Everett’s transformative bus lane led to a domino effect in Greater Boston, with numerous other municipalities piloting and laying down permanent fixtures for bus lanes throughout the region: over the next four years, Roslindale, Arlington, Cambridge, Watertown, Allston, and Somerville saw the benefits of improved commute times for bus riders," according to the same website.

Monday, June 21, 2021 in Metropolitan Area Planning Council

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