MBTA To Reduce Service For Multiple Malden Bus Routes

MALDEN, MA — The MBTA's fall schedule will take effect on Sunday, bringing with it a series of service reductions for more than 40 bus routes across the MBTA network, officials announced on Wednesday.

Malden riders will see impacts, with cuts coming for at least one bus route passing through town. Summertime frequency cuts will also remain in effect on the Red Line, the Blue Line and the Orange Line, once it reopens after its current shutdown, officials said.

This, according to the MBTA, is due at least in part to staffing issues across the network, which is struggling to hire for vacancies in Operational Control Center and bus driver positions.

“While the MBTA continues its aggressive hiring campaign, the MBTA is adjusting bus service on some routes beginning August 28, 2022, to better match scheduled service with the actual level of service being delivered,” the agency said on Wednesday.

Decreased service is coming to 43 bus routes next week. Nine will see route changes. More than 30 routes will feature departure time changes for the fall season while two routes will get more service.

In Malden, this translates to the following changes:

• 106 Bus - The 8:10 p.m. outbound weekday trip will be eliminated.
• 108 Bus - Frequency will decrease between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
• 137 Bus - Frequency will decrease between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.

The 106 bus links Wellington Station in Medford to neighborhoods near the Malden/Melrose border, snaking through downtown Malden along its route.

The 109 bus similarly begins at Wellington before moving through the downtown area and veering east toward Revere.

The 137 route connects downtown Malden to Melrose, Wakefield and Reading, beginning at Malden Center station and ending at the Reading Commuter Rail stop.

The MBTA said on Wednesday that bus route changes “will be made with special focus on maintaining service levels on routes with durable ridership, increasing service on the most crowded routes, adapting service to accommodate school and work trips, and maintaining the T’s flexibility to make changes to schedules as needed.”

A full list of service changes is available here.

The T has advised riders impacted by service changes to use its Trip Planner service to find alternate routes.

READ: MBTA Fall Schedule Reduces Bus Service, Extends Subway Frequency Cuts