The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has announced it will begin a bus lane pilot programme on Washington Street, Gateway East, running from Station Street to the Boston city line.
Announced in partnership with the Town of Brookline, the pilot, which will begin installation on June 24, will run for a year and has been funded by the MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces grant programme.
The year-long pilot, funded by a MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces grant, will introduce bus-only lanes and transit signal priority on Washington Street
© Canva
The pilot will see one eastbound and one westbound general-purpose travel lane repurposed as bus-only lanes, with transit signal priority installed in order to aid MBTA buses at intersections along the route.
Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, said:
Dedicated bus lanes like this one being piloted in Brookline lead to efficient service and a more pleasant ride for our customers.
The Shared Streets and Spaces Grants funding will help to make a difference in the lives of those who live, work, and travel in this community.
Temporary lanes installed will serve MBTA Routes 60, 65 and 66, which currently serves up to 15,000 daily passengers. As part of the scheme, emergency vehicles and Longwood Collective Shuttles will be permitted to travel along the lanes.
The introduction of the pilot builds on previous reconstruction work carried on the corridor in 2021, which saw the street rebuilt, as well as the installation of sidewalks and new protected bike lanes.