| Wicked Local
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is seeking input and feedback on proposed service changes in its Forging Ahead initiative, a plan to define and protect core essential services for those who depend most critically on the MBTA for frequent and reliable service by reducing primarily nonessential services.
All MBTA services will be affected, including bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry. Public comments on the service changes are due by Dec. 4, with the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board expected to vote on the proposed changes on Dec. 7. The board’s meeting agenda will be posted at https://bit.ly/3krXbow, and residents can register to attend.
The MBTA is holding 11 virtual public meetings in November about these proposed service changes.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public transportation ridership has dropped significantly and has not rebounded yet. According to the MBTA, in 2019 MBTA riders took 1.26 million daily trips. This October, riders took around 330,000 daily trips — or 26% of daily ridership compared to 2019. The MBTA has continued to run service at 2019 levels, even though it does not match current demand. In order to protect essential service for those who depend upon it, the MBTA is proposing to reduce service where there are fewer riders. The proposed changes to service would be phased in over the course of early- to mid-2021. The MBTA notes that most service changes are not intended to be permanent, and they will bring back higher levels of service when demand and travel patterns change and there is durable revenue to support it.
MBTA bus service in Arlington will be significantly affected by the MBTA’s current proposal. The following changes are proposed:
• Eliminate Route 79 (Arlington Heights to Alewife Station).
• Eliminate Route 80 (Arlington Center to Lechmere Station), contingent upon completion of the Green Line Extension.
• Consolidate Routes 78 and 84 (Arlmont Village to Harvard Station and Arlmont Village to Alewife Station).
• Consolidate Routes 62 and 76 (Bedford VA Hospital to Alewife Station and Hanscom Air Force Base to Alewife Station).
• The remaining bus routes within Arlington may operate below baseline service levels: 67, 77, 87, 95 and 350.
Systemwide changes to bus service proposed include:
• Stop all service after midnight (early service will continue on essential bus routes).
• Reduce frequency on essential routes by systemwide average of 5% (will vary by route, high ridership will not be changed).
• Reduce frequency on nonessential routes systemwide by 20% (will vary by route based on ridership).
• Consolidate or restructure approximately 10 routes.
• Eliminate approximately 25 routes that served less than 0.5% of pre-COVID riders (about 1,700).
The proposed changes to bus service are expected to become implemented in summer 2021.
There are also proposed changes to subway service and commuter rail service. Starting in spring 2021, the plan calls for stopping all service at midnight and reducing frequency by 20% across all lines. Commuter rail changes proposed including stopping all service after 9 p.m., stopping all service on weekends and decreasing weekday peak service and some midday service.
Specific service scenarios and proposed changes can be found under “Related Files” from the Nov. 9 meeting of the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board at https://bit.ly/36BpNXQ.
Information on the proposed service changes is available at https://mbta.com/forging-ahead.
For information about the proposed changes in Arlington or on how to submit comments, contact Daniel Amstutz, senior transportation planner in Arlington’s Department of Planning & Community Development, at 781-316-3093 or [email protected].
