Message from the commissioner: improvements to MBTA bus stops

Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in a public meeting with the MBTA to talk about Bus Stop Improvements in South Boston. This meeting was held to inform residents about the T’s Better Bus Project, which aims to improve the quality of fixed-route bus transit in every neighborhood.

An important part of the MBTA’s work focuses on improving accessibility for people with disabilities at bus stops, with the goal of making all its bus stops fully ADA compliant. The T recently concluded an ADA assessment of every bus stop in its network as part of their PATI project (Plan for Accessible Transit Infrastructure). Now they are beginning to implement accessibility upgrades at bus stops on priority bus routes, as in South Boston. The T is committed to working closely with neighborhood residents to ensure that all of their concerns are addressed throughout this process.

Another piece of the Better Bus Project focuses on dedicated bus lanes, which the T hopes can ease commuting times for Boston residents. However, there are numerous factors involved in this process because our streets are built to accommodate multi-modal travel, including vehicular traffic, bike lanes, pedestrians, and parking. The T will continue to study the effectiveness of bus lanes as it aims to strike a balance of different types of travel on city streets.

In all of these endeavors, the MBTA is making an intentional effort to get the community's perspective, and give everyone a chance to voice their concerns. I truly appreciate their efforts to strategize with residents to improve transit in their neighborhoods. My office will continue to work with the T, with other city departments, and with community stakeholders to ensure that accessibility for people with disabilities remains a top priority.