MBTA Reworks Bus Route Redesign Plan: What It Means For Burlington

BURLINGTON, MA — The MBTA released a new version of its proposed bus network overhaul on Thursday, adjusting planned changes following months of feedback and some criticism of a previous plan from the agency in May.

This week’s changes were far reaching, touching 85 of 133 total proposed bus routes, including multiple BUrlington MBTA routes through town.

The MBTA is restructuring its bus network with stated goals of increasing system-wide service by 25% while doubling the number of high frequency corridors, where buses arrive within 15 minutes of each other throughout service hours in daily seven-day schedules.

The agency’s initial redesign proposal drew frustration in places, though, trimming service on some bus routes while, among other things, cutting Burlington’s existing express 354 bus to Boston.

The T said it fielded more than 20,000 comments on its May proposal. Officials said those comments shaped their new plan this week, which aims to improve access to hospitals, senior centers and other destinations. The plan looks to cut walking distances for seniors and other riders particularly in challenging topography areas.

The new plan, officials continued, aims to preserve “one-seat” rides to high traffic destinations while operating within the confines of available bus resources.

Here’s what it means for Burlington:

80 Bus

A new 80 bus has replaced the MBTA’s existing 350 route. This route runs from Chestnut Avenue in Burlington to the 3rd Ave Plaza and on to Woburn before now ending at Davis Square in Somerville for a Red Line connection, rather than the Alewife station. The bus route will include stops at the West Medford Commuter Rail station.

351 Bus

The MBTA’s latest redesign vision made no changes to its May plans for the 351 bus, which will link properties in Bedford near the Bedford/Billerica border to the Third Ave plaza in Burlington.

354 Bus

Plans to cut the 354 express bus from Burlington and Woburn to Boston were some of the most controversial in the region following the T’s May bus network redesign announcement.

Officials celebrated news this week that the bus would remain unchanged.

“We helped the MBTA understand the critical access the 354 Bus Route provides for our residents and our community,” Woburn State Representative Richard Haggerty said this week, noting “months of advocacy.”

He thanked community members for their support and advocacy on behalf of the express bus, calling recent efforts “a great show of teamwork.”

See the MBTA’s full summary of recent bus network redesign changes here.

With a new proposal in hand, MBTA personnel are set to move forward with bus network redesign plans next week with a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.

The T will complete an equity analysis of the revised bus network in December, before holding another public meeting to discuss the equity analysis at some point this winter.

As the T pushes forward with bus network redesign goals, it is still grappling with a bus driver shortage that prompted it to cut service on some bus routes earlier this year.

Several Burlington buses were impacted by that action.