MBTA Key Bus Route Improvement Program Community Meeting Route 1 - Cambridge Cambridge Senior Center, Central Square 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
Typical Conditions Bus stop too short Signage issues Poorly located boarding area 7 Bus stops too close 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 8 8 4
Farside 60ft Nearside 80ft Required Bus Stop Lengths 9 Midblock (or after left hand turn) 100ft Reliability Issues Bus bunching Overcrowding On-time performance 10 5
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 11 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. 12 6
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 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 7
Traffic Signal Improvements Provide advance green time for buses Reduce overall congestion Requires coordination with roadway authority 15 Improved Amenities Trash receptacles Shelters 16 Benches Pavement markings 8
Improving Customer Information 17 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 18 9
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) 19 Proposed Recommendations (updated) 20 10
30% Design Plans 21 Boston Improvements 22 11
Mass Ave @ Mass Ave Station Pavement markings/crossing improvements. 23 June Leading 13, 2011 the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot Mass Ave @ Christian Science OB Consolidate Westland Ave with Clearway St. Construct landing area and add shelter and pavement markings. 90 Proposed 24 91 12
Mass Ave @ Christian Science OB Consolidate Westland Ave with Clearway St. Construct landing area and add shelter and pavement markings. 25 Mass Ave @ Christian Science IB Consolidate Christian Science Center with Westland Ave. Add shelter, trash receptacle and pavement markings. 81 Proposed 26 80 13
Mass Ave @ Christian Science IB Consolidate Christian Science Center with Westland Ave. Add shelter, trash receptacle and pavement markings. 27 Mass Ave @ Belvidere St Remove stop to provide better bus stop spacing and improve pedestrian and vehicle flow. 92 28 14
Mass Ave @ Boylston Street Investigate shared bus/right turn lane Outbound Inbound 29 June Leading 13, 2011 the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot Mass Ave @ Hynes/Newbury St Repair sidewalk; consider adding bus lane. 79 30 15
Mass Ave @ Hynes/Newbury St Relocate OB stop closer to Green Line Station. Add pavement markings, bus lane, and bus advance signal. 93 Proposed 31 Mass Ave @ Hynes/Newbury St Relocate OB stop closer to Green Line Station. Add bus lane and TSP. 32 16
Mass Ave @ Comm Ave Remove inbound/outbound stops and relocate shelters 78 33 Leading the Nation in Transportation 94 Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot Mass Ave @ Beacon Street Retain stops. Investigate shelter at OB stop. 95 34 77 17
Cambridge Improvements 35 Mass Ave @ Memorial Dr IB Remove stop due to stop spacing and to improve traffic flow. 76 36 18
Mass Ave @ Albany St IB Eliminate driveway, reconstruct sidewalk. 74 37 Mass Ave @ Albany St IB Eliminate driveway, reconstruct sidewalk. 38 19
Mass Ave @ Landsdowne/Front St Eliminate inbound/outbound stops. 731 39 100 Mass Ave @ Pleasant St Lengthen stop and add pavement markings. 71 40 20
Mass Ave @ Hancock/Sellers St IB Lengthen Hancock St stop to 90 100 ; add bench and pavement markings. Remove Sellers St stop due to low ridership and to improve bus stop spacing. 70 69 41 Mass Ave @ Clinton St Remove OB stop due to low ridership and to improve bus stop spacing. 105 42 21
Mass Ave @ Hancock/Dana St Relocate OB Hancock St stop farside of Hancock St. Remove Dana St Stop. 107 Proposed 43 106 Mass Ave @ Johnston Gate Add shelter, bench, and pavement markings. 2168 44 22
Mass Ave @ Johnston Gate Add shelter, bench, and pavement markings. 45 Quincy St @ Harvard St Repaint pavement markings. Proposal to relocate stop to nearside of Harvard St withdrawn. 2167 46 23
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 47 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 48 24
Project Schedule Bus Route 1 Develop Concept Jan/ Feb Apr Jun 2012 Mar Finalize Plan Engineering Implementation Public Process 49 1/19 1/20 2/2 3/8 6/13 6/14 Public Outreach 50 25
51 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 57: June 22 Boston Route 66: June 23 Mission Hill Discussion 52 26
Discussion We want to hear from you! 53 27