With ridership significantly down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MBTA has proposed a series of changes to the system, including altering and consolidating bus routes, and reducing hours of service on subways and the Commuter Rail.
The plan has been dubbed Forging Ahead by the MBTA. The T will host a series of online meetings where the changes will be discussed from mid-November to early December. The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board will vote on the changes on Dec. 7.
Locally, some routes would be impacted by the proposed changes, but not the most used routes:
- The 502 route is proposed to be consolidated with another route.
- The following routes are proposed to be shortened: Rtes. 554 and 558.
- No changes are proposed for Rtes. 70, 71, 73, 57 and 59.
Watertown is part of Region 4, also called the Inner Core, which will have a meeting on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. There will also be systemwide meetings on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. See below for links to the meeting.
The MBTA provided the following information:
Buses
Buses are experiencing about 171,000 weekday boardings, which is approximately 41% of pre-COVID ridership.
Starting in summer 2021, we plan to:
- Stop all service after midnight (early service will continue on essential bus routes)
- Reduce frequency on essential routes by system-wide average of 5% (will vary by route, high ridership will not be changed)
- Reduce frequency on non-essential routes system-wide 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)
Subways
The Red, Orange, Blue, and underground Green Line stations are experiencing approximately ~120,000 gated entries on weekdays, which is about 24% of pre-COVID ridership.
Starting in spring 2021, we plan to:
- Stop all service after midnight
- Reduce frequency by 20% across all lines
- Stop E Line Service at Brigham Circle, diverting riders to Route 39, which will have increased service
Commuter Rail
The Commuter Rail is experiencing approximately 13% of its pre-COVID ridership, with about 8.5% of its normal ridership during morning peak periods.
Starting mostly in May 2021, we plan to:
- Stop all service after 9 PM
- Stop all weekend service (Fairmount Line replaced by bus service), starting as early as January 2021
- Decrease weekday peak service and some midday service, reducing from 505 trains (Fall 2019) to 430 trains
- Close six (out of 141) stations based on low ridership, operational impacts, and availability of alternatives:
- Plimptonville
- Prides Crossing
- Silver Hill
- Hastings
- Plymouth
- Cedar Park
Service levels by line will take into account ridership patterns.
The Ride
Starting in summer 2021:
- Some RIDE trips may become premium trips, though RIDE service boundaries would not change.
- Some trips will be able to be booked 40 minutes from request time instead of the current 30 minutes.
See more information about Forging Ahead by clicking here.
Upcoming System-Wide Meetings
Forging Ahead Virtual Public Hearing: System-Wide Service
NOVEMBER 19, 2020, 6:00 PM – Forging Ahead Virtual Public Hearing: System-Wide Service. Virtual, Boston, MA
Forging Ahead Virtual Public Meeting: System-Wide Service
DECEMBER 2, 2020, 6:00 PM – Forging Ahead Virtual Public Meeting: System-Wide Service. Virtual, Boston, MA
Upcoming Regional Meetings
Forging Ahead Virtual Public Meeting: Inner Core (Region 4)
NOVEMBER 17, 2020, 6:00 PM – Forging Ahead Virtual Public Meeting: Inner Core (Region 4). Virtual, Boston, MA
Accessibility
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation and/or language services, please email publicengagement@mbta.com.