MBTA Route 39 Key Bus Route Improvement Program Presentation of Improvements Kennedy School 7 Bolster Street Jamaica Plain
Agenda Welcome and Introductions Overview of Route 39 Improvement Program Final Plan Next Steps 2 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Why We Are Here Today Final engineering plans are complete Construction schedule Summer 2012: Hire contractor Fall 2012: Start construction Spring 2013: Finish construction What to expect 3
What are we Proposing? A Better Route 39 Improved bus stop locations Bus stop consolidation New shelters and amenities Better accessibility Upgrades to bus service & reliability 4
Background & History MassDOT commitment in 2008 Comprehensive community process Stimulus /ARRA funding availability Integration into larger Key Bus Routes Program
Project Process Community meetings Public comments/recommendations Citizen working group meetings Ongoing coordination City of Boston Abutters/Community Groups Centre/South Transportation Action Plan Conceptual plan Preliminary plan Final plan Construction 6
Why has this taken so long? Availability of construction funds Comprehensive public participation process Challenges with maximizing accessibility Prototype for the larger Key Bus Routes Program 7
Route 39: Overview Forest Hills to Back Bay >5 miles long Run Time Varies by Time of Day (approx. 25-38 min) MBTA s 2nd Busiest Route Over 14,000 daily boardings Buses run every 6-12 minutes 8
Project Goals Faster service Less stops, shorter trip times, fewer delays
Faster Service Reduce Overall Delays - Shorten Trip Times Traffic Signal Improvements Stop Locations Reliability Improvements Fewer Stops Faster Boarding 10
Better Bus Stop Locations Ridership customer boardings and alightings Appropriate distance between stops Proximity to schools, medical centers, etc Sufficient length to allow buses to pull to the curb Clear boarding/alighting area Considerate of adjacent traffic and parking
Project Goals Faster service Less stops, shorter trip times, fewer delays Improved accessibility For seniors and persons with disabilities Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
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 60 buses 13
Required Bus Stop Lengths 60 bus Farside 80ft Nearside 100ft About 50% of Route 39 stops are less than 60 in length 14 Midblock (or after left hand turn) 120ft
New Pavement Markings Improves bus stop delineation Helps prevent illegal parking 15
Project Goals Faster service Less stops, shorter trip times, fewer delays Improved accessibility For seniors and persons with disabilities Passenger amenities Shelters, benches, signage, trash receptacles 16 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
New Bus Stop Amenities Trash receptacles Shelters 17 Benches
Project Goals Faster service Less stops, shorter trip times, fewer delays Improved accessibility For seniors and persons with disabilities Passenger amenities Shelters, benches, signage, trash receptacles Reliability Less bus bunching, improved on-time performance 18 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Improving Reliability Tools to monitor and control buses Bus bunching Overcrowding On-time performance 19 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Improvement Highlights Consolidation of 20% of stops Adjust location of 9 stops Accessibility Enhancements Amenities More parking 20 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
New Bus Shelters Up to 10 new shelters Contingent on Abutter approval 21
Amenities 11 New Benches 29 New Trash Receptacles 31 Stops with New Pavement Markings 7 Catenary Pole Removals 22 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Plan Update: Harvest Market 23 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Plan Update: Bardwell St 24 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
New Shelter South St at Curtis Hall (IB) 25 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Curb Extension: Seaverns 26 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot Requires abutter approval
Typical Curb Extension 27
Curb Extensions Extend the sidewalk Improves pedestrian safety at intersections; shortens crossing distance Provides width on sidewalks for bus shelters, benches, and standing room Reduces parking loss associated with longer bus stops Improves the ability of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists to see each other 28 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Curb Extension: St. John Requires abutter approval March 2, 2011 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
New Shelter Centre St at Lochstead Ave (OB) Lochstead 30 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Curb Extension: Roseway 31
Plan Update: Heath Street IB 32 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Curb Extension: Perkins Requires abutter approval Poposed 33 Existing
New Shelter S. Huntington Ave at Huntington Ave (OB) 34 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
New Shelter Huntington at Louis Prang St (OB) 35 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
New Shelters 360 Huntington (IB and OB) Northeastern 360 Huntington Opera Place 36 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Signal Improvements 37 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
What to Expect during Construction Fall 2012 Spring 2012 No disruption of bus service Minor inconveniences due to short-term, temporary bus stops & sidewalk closures Advance community notifications & contact information 38
Up Next: Route 39 Downtown/Back Bay Routing Copley Back Bay 39
Larger Program Enhancements to 15 Key Bus Routes Funded by $10 million ARRA grant 40
Key Bus Route Program 41 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot 41 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Project Updates: www.mbta.com/keybusroutes Mail to: MBTA Operations and Service Development, 45 High St, Boston, MA 02110 Email to: keybusroutes@mbta.com 43 Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence www.mass.gov/massdot
Bus Arrival Times 44