Route 86 buses carry 6150 riders per day and often get stuck in traffic in Somerville. Early morning and late-night trips take 30 minutes. During rush hour it can take up to an hour.

By Denise Keniston
tw:@denisekeniston

The city of Somerville’s Mobility Division is planning new “quick-build” bus/bike lanes for the western portion of Washington Street between Union Square and Beacon Street clearing a path for Somerville’s most-used MBTA Route 86 buses. The plan also includes new bike lanes on Washington Street – an important connection between Union Square and Harvard Square in Cambridge.

Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, described the “quick-build” pilot as “a test run” at a recent online meeting. He expects a complete reconstruction of the street in the next few years, which would be an opportunity for the city to implement a more permanent design using data from the pilot.

“It’s just paint on the street at this point, which is the most cost-effective way to try this out. This pilot will give us the chance to see what works and what doesn’t, so that in 2022 or 2023, when we rebuild Washington Street, we’ll be ready and it can be the best possible street for everyone who uses it,” said Scott.

66 parking spots will be eliminated on the stretch between Union Square and Beacon Street (seen here in the red). Western Washington is one of several “quick-build” improvements projects in Somerville. (click to enlarge) — Courtesy of City of Somerville

Route 86 buses use Washington Street on its route between Sullivan Square, Harvard Square, and Cleveland Circle and is the MBTA’s eighteenth busiest bus route. According to MBTA data, Route 86 buses makes the trip in about 30 minutes during early morning and night trips, but during peak hours, the trip often takes an entire hour. To make room for new dedicated bus lanes and bike lanes, the city estimates that up to 66 on-street parking spaces will be eliminated. Jeffrey Robbins lives on Washington Street and says parking is already “challenging”. He says, “I’ll be one of the people affected by the removal of parking spots. Nighttime parking is challenging and I do live in the red zone and anecdotally if there aren’t spots on Washington, I have to make several circuits to find a place to park and then I’m forced to walk quite a distance.” He adds, “My own anecdotal data is that it’s pretty tough going at night.”

The MBTA, the City of Boston, the City of Somerville, the City of Everett, and the City of Chelsea are taking on an unprecedented regionwide effort to implement up to 14 miles of dedicated bus lanes throughout the upcoming fall and spring to speed up buses on congested streets. Projects were selected by targeting corridors that have seen some of the highest rates of bus ridership since March and experience above average chronic delay, thereby improving service for the most vulnerable users. Mayor Curtatone advocates “building Somerville around people” not “around cars.” He says, “This COVID-19 crisis has reminded us of the deep disparities across our region. Our roadmap to recovery must include efforts like bus lanes that quickly enhance access to safe transit, cut commute travel times, and improve air quality for our most vulnerable residents.”

Somerville residents can expect more “quick-build” bus/bike lanes. The COVIC-19 pandemic environment has accelerated previous plans by the MassDOT, the MBTA, and city of Somerville to provide safe and clean transportation for bus riders including essential workers – many of which take the bus to work. Somerville homeowner Lena Webb takes bus 87 or 88. “I think a lot of people consider the bus to be an unreliable mode of transit,” She says. “But I’m not sure how many see that the main reason a bus is delayed is because it’s stuck in car traffic. Dedicated bus lanes combined with the apps that allow you to track bus locations based on MBTA GPS signals will make the mode much more appealing.”

Current projects include the Davis Square (Holland and College) Bus Priority Project where “bus-only” pavement markings started this week and a complete reconstruction is schedule for 2021. Current projects also include the Eastern Washington Street Bus and Bike Lanes Project (McGrath to Sullivan Square) which is funded by a grant from the MassDOT, and Western Washington Street Bus and Bike Lanes Project (Beacon Street to Union Square) which is also planned for this Fall. Residents can learn more here https://somervoice.somervillema.gov/quick-build-bus-lanes.