Boston’s Blue Hill Avenue to Get BRT, Safety Improvements

A major Boston street is getting a makeover, complete with a center-running bus lane, reports Zeninjor Enwemeka for WBUR. “The $44 million Blue Hill Avenue redesign project is funded by a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, $11 million from the MBTA and $18 million from the city of Boston.”

Mayor Michelle Wu announced the project this week, noting that the dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure will make bus travel faster and more reliable. “More than half of all travelers on Blue Hill Avenue ride buses, according to the city. And there are more than 37,000 bus riders on the corridor every weekday.”

The project will also add crosswalks, widen sidewalks, and change traffic signal timing for smoother traffic flow. The city says it will “consider” bike lanes. “The city will engage residents and local business owners block-by-block over the next several months to determine the right mix of parking spaces, pedestrian infrastructure, green space and travel lanes.”

Work on the project will begin this year with improved street lighting, refreshed pavement markings, new shade structures on bus shelters, and roadway repairs.