Boston Mayor Michelle Wu mentioned she “strongly supports” lots of the commitments made within the MBTA’s bus community redesign proposal, however is anxious about service cuts, route adjustments, and a scarcity of connections in sure neighborhoods.
“We know that certain existing neighborhood routes are key to our riders — including older adults and people with disabilities,” Wu wrote in a letter to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak this week. “These routes must be complemented, not removed.”
Wu mentioned the City of Boston opposes adjustments to bus route 11 between South Boston and downtown, route 39 between Jamaica Plain and Back Bay, and route 55 between Fenway-Kenmore and Back Bay.
She can be calling for the restoration of the pre-pandemic route 55, with service to downtown Boston.
“These connections are vital to the communities they serve and would not be well-served by the current MBTA proposals,” Wu wrote.
MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo mentioned the T is reviewing town’s suggestions, “along with the 20,000 additional comments received on the draft network map.”
“With a shared goal of designing a bus network that reflects shifting demographics, emerging employment areas and changing travel patterns, the MBTA continues to have a productive dialogue with the city,” Pesaturo mentioned.
“As part of the ongoing review process, the redesign team is evaluating potential changes to the map in response to public feedback.”
Recommended adjustments to the map can be shared in late October, he mentioned.
Under the draft redesign map, riders would profit from a 25% improve in bus service, 70% spike in weekend service, and 275,000 extra residents could be close to high-frequency buses, which might run at 15-minute intervals or higher, in response to the MBTA.
The T mentioned 115,000 residents of coloration and 40,000 low-income households would achieve entry to that high-frequency service.
Wu mentioned that whereas she helps these commitments, she has considerations in regards to the T’s means to fund the “consistent, frequent and reliable service” outlined within the bus community redesign proposal.
“The MBTA must outline supporting resource commitments that will make this vision a reality,” she mentioned.
The last bus community redesign map can be carried out in phases over 5 years, starting in the summertime of 2023.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”