MBTA Buses & Infrastructure

MassDOT released their bike routes for alternative OL service.

MassDOT Releases Bicyclist Guide Ahead of Orange Line Closure Beginning August 19 | News | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.
www.mbta.com www.mbta.com

Specific inbound and outbound routes:
www.google.com

2022 Inbound Bicycle Route to Boston - Google My Maps

2022 Inbound Bicycle Route to Boston
www.google.com www.google.com
www.google.com

Outbound Bicycle Route to Oak Grove - Google My Maps

Outbound Bicycle Route to Oak Grove
www.google.com www.google.com

North of Boston, these inbound and outbound suggested bike routes clearly illustrate the deficiencies in bikeway infrastructure without a fixed route crossing of the Mystic and pre-opening of the Red Bridge portion of the GLX Community Path
(and as discussed, Red Bridge will have its own grade and width problems from the jump). These are ridiculously convoluted routes that take riders on a death defying (hopefully) journey along Revere Beach Parkway, Route 28 over the Mystic, and over around and through Brickbottom. Understood that RBP stretch and Rt. 28 have bike lanes, but god bless anyone willing to risk their lives biking along either highway. Granted MassDOT is trying to adhere closely to the OL stations, but we’re light years away of anyone considering biking as a viable commuting alternative go-forward with these pathways to contemplate.
 
I've attempted to update my bus lanes map with the temporary lanes:
www.google.com

MBTA bus lanes - Google My Maps

MBTA bus lanes
www.google.com www.google.com

Any corrections as to the exact location and direction of the temporary lanes (and any others) are welcome! There's a lot of conflicting information out; Streetsblog has a photo of a bus lane on Boylston between Exeter and Dartmouth, but the city maps only show buses on Boylston between Dartmouth and Clarendon.
 
Charlie_mta said:
Lynnway is a more wide-open roadway (3 lanes each way and no parking), so it may be more straightforward and cheaper to put in center bus lanes than the more constrained Columbus Ave.
Click to expand...

I believe the early design was basically to just eliminate the right lane on the Northbound side and put in bike lanes.
 
tangent said:
I believe the early design was basically to just eliminate the right lane on the Northbound side and put in bike lanes.
Click to expand...
I think one thing people seem to be missing about Lynnway bus lanes, is that they are not going to solve the service issues of North Shore buses headed to Wonderland. The Lynnway is not the bottleneck.

North Shore Road through Revere is the big issue. And with only 2 lanes each way, hemmed in by marsh, it is not getting bus lanes. Only BLX solves the real problem. The Lynnway bus lanes are a big "look we did something, now shut up" project.
 
JeffDowntown said:
I think one thing people seem to be missing about Lynnway bus lanes, is that they are not going to solve the service issues of North Shore buses headed to Wonderland. The Lynnway is not the bottleneck.

North Shore Road through Revere is the big issue. And with only 2 lanes each way, hemmed in by marsh, it is not getting bus lanes. Only BLX solves the real problem. The Lynnway bus lanes are a big "look we did something, now shut up" project.
Click to expand...
The Lynnway project seems more like BRT-oriented development for that section of Lynn that keeps on getting studied.

North Shore Road BRT would be bonkers.
 
as02143 said:
The Lynnway project seems more like BRT-oriented development for that section of Lynn that keeps on getting studied.

North Shore Road BRT would be bonkers.
Click to expand...
OK, but the BRT needs to take you somewhere useful. Lynn Central Square has no where near enough service into Boston to be that location.
 
The Fall 2022 service changes have been released. Lots of cuts. Understaffing? How can they be both impelemting BNRD and doing this?

RouteChange
4555:00 AM inbound Saturday trip added.
SL1Frequency increases between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays.
1Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM on weekdays. Frequency decreases between 11:30 AM and 6:30 PM on Saturdays.
7Frequency decreases between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
8Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM on weekdays.
9Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
11Frequency decreases between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
19Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM on weekdays.
216:37 AM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
22Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM and between 7:00 PM and 10:30 PM on weekdays.
23Frequency decreases between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM and between 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM on weekdays. Frequency decreases between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturdays.
26Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM and between 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
28Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays.
29Frequency decreases between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
31Frequency decreases between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM on weekdays.
363:22 PM inbound weekday trip is eliminated.
395:29 AM inbound and 5:59 AM outbound Sunday trips are eliminated.
42Frequency decreases between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM on weekdays.
44Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and between 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
47Frequency decreases between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM on weekdays.
70Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays.
71Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
73Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
773:25 PM inbound weekday trip is eliminated. Trips shift throughout the day on weekdays.
882:50 PM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
91Frequency decreases between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM and between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM on weekdays.
95Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM on weekdays.
1068:10 PM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
108Frequency decreases between 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
110Frequency decreases between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.
116Frequency decreases between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
117Frequency decreases between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
1207:06 PM inbound and 7:34 PM outbound trips are eliminated.
137Frequency decreases between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays.
202Operates only between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
350Frequency decreases in the outbound direction in the morning and the inbound direction in the evening on weekdays.
351Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays.
3548:30 AM outbound and 9:40 AM inbound weekday trips are eliminated. 3:00 PM outbound and 4:10 PM inbound weekday trips are eliminated.
435Frequency decreases between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM on weekdays.
44210:46 PM and 11:45 PM outbound weekday trips and 10:18 PM and 11:15 PM inbound weekday trips are eliminated.
4558:35 AM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
501Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM on weekdays.
SL2Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays.
Route SL2 no longer serves 88 Black Falcon due to safety concerns.
SL4Frequency decreases between 3:00 PM and 10:00 PM on weekdays.
SL5Frequency decreases between 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
 
737900er said:
The Fall 2022 service changes have been released. Lots of cuts. Understaffing? How can they be both impelemting BNRD and doing this?

RouteChange
4555:00 AM inbound Saturday trip added.
SL1Frequency increases between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays.
1Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM on weekdays. Frequency decreases between 11:30 AM and 6:30 PM on Saturdays.
7Frequency decreases between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
8Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM on weekdays.
9Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
11Frequency decreases between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
19Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM on weekdays.
216:37 AM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
22Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM and between 7:00 PM and 10:30 PM on weekdays.
23Frequency decreases between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM and between 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM on weekdays. Frequency decreases between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturdays.
26Frequency decreases between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM and between 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
28Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays.
29Frequency decreases between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
31Frequency decreases between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM on weekdays.
363:22 PM inbound weekday trip is eliminated.
395:29 AM inbound and 5:59 AM outbound Sunday trips are eliminated.
42Frequency decreases between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM on weekdays.
44Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and between 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
47Frequency decreases between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM on weekdays.
70Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays.
71Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
73Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
773:25 PM inbound weekday trip is eliminated. Trips shift throughout the day on weekdays.
882:50 PM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
91Frequency decreases between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM and between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM on weekdays.
95Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM on weekdays.
1068:10 PM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
108Frequency decreases between 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
110Frequency decreases between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.
116Frequency decreases between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
117Frequency decreases between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM on weekdays.
1207:06 PM inbound and 7:34 PM outbound trips are eliminated.
137Frequency decreases between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays.
202Operates only between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
350Frequency decreases in the outbound direction in the morning and the inbound direction in the evening on weekdays.
351Frequency decreases throughout the day on weekdays.
3548:30 AM outbound and 9:40 AM inbound weekday trips are eliminated. 3:00 PM outbound and 4:10 PM inbound weekday trips are eliminated.
435Frequency decreases between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM on weekdays.
44210:46 PM and 11:45 PM outbound weekday trips and 10:18 PM and 11:15 PM inbound weekday trips are eliminated.
4558:35 AM outbound weekday trip is eliminated.
501Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM on weekdays.
SL2Frequency decreases between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays.
Route SL2 no longer serves 88 Black Falcon due to safety concerns.
SL4Frequency decreases between 3:00 PM and 10:00 PM on weekdays.
SL5Frequency decreases between 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays.
Click to expand...
BNRD is still years out from implementation. Probably another year before community process is even done.
 
HelloBostonHi said:
BNRD is still years out from implementation. Probably another year before community process is even done.
Click to expand...

BNRD is scheduled to start rolling out in June 2023, although obviously not all then. We're 10 months from there and they're implementing "frequency decreases" on 8 of the existing Key routes (1, 22, 23, 28, 39, 71, 73, 116/117) -- some of which don't even meet the T-levels of service today.
 
It's retirements, but also lots of other things - lack of bathroom access, crap working conditions, bad schedules, assaults on operators, bad pay for junior employees, all the stress and strain of the pandemic, fears of privatization, lack of affordable housing that allows for a decent commute to work, difficulty securing childcare, etc. MBTA is def not alone in this - virtually every transit agency (interesting local exception is MVRTA) is experiencing operator shortage issues. Without a complete turnaround on many of those issues, it's gonna continue to be a problem for the T. Good white paper from TC goes into some ideas for tackling it.
 
lainpimicaja said:
interesting local exception is MVRTA
Click to expand...
One thing that gets lost in this hype about 30 minute service all day, which is admittedly AMAZING, is that Sunday service was cut as a result of driver shortages. That'd be really nice to have return, if only to be able to state that the only bus in Lowell on Sundays is operated by the MVRTA, not the LRTA...
 
Artificial Intelligence will help with the bus driver shortage by driving heavy rail subway trains, freeing up dozens of human operators to drive busses.
 
jklo said:
You don't need AI to be able to do automated heavy subway. Or at least you shouldn't.
Click to expand...
Singapore has 125 miles of autonomous heavy rail subway. Their first autonomous line opened in 2003.

There are dozens of other autonomous heavy rail metros scattered around the world, many in Asia (big push across China over the past 5 years).
 
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Automation for heavy rail (or fully-grade-separated light rail, like the subway portion of Muni Metro in SF) is easy as noted. Fixed right-of-way, no cross traffic. Platform screen doors are desirable for fully driverless operation, but not required (Vancouver doesn't have them; BART has always had an operator for the doors.)

Light rail (either on-street or private ROW with grade crossings) and bus routes are definitely a promising possibility for driverless operation. While most of the general challenges of AVs are there, because crossings and traffic mean you have to identify and track moving objects, you're still dealing with a more limited physical area that it has to navigate. Bus route is all local streets and no expressways? Great, your AI doesn't have to have the ability to go on them.

With driverless operation and electric buses, there's an opportunity to greatly increase service at lower cost than today. Your per-mile costs drop down to electricity (relatively cheap) and maintenance/replacement cost of buses. Imagine routes that currently have 30-minute headways instead having a driverless shuttle every 5 minutes - the density threshold for "able to support transit good enough that you don't need a car" suddenly includes a lot of the suburbs.
 
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