La legislatura aprueba la Ley del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense (ARPA),
Factura de gastos excedentes del año fiscal 21
3 de diciembre de 2021 Presione soltar
The Honorable Steve Poftak
General Manager
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
10 Park Plaza, Suite 5610
Boston, MA 02116
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Dear General Manager Poftak,
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Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to provide written feedback on the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority’s proposed redesign of the region’s bus network. I believe that on the whole,
the proposal strengthens the MBTA’s bus service, and I’m grateful for the hard work that went into
developing it.
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However, the devil is in the details, and there are a few areas of Newton in which I believe the
redesigned bus network comes up short. In this letter, I’d like to highlight those areas and suggest ways
in which the MBTA can amend its proposed redesign of the bus network to ensure that Newton receives
adequate service.
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Express bus service
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My biggest concern is that the proposal would decimate Newton’s express bus service, leaving residents
with few good options for commuting into downtown Boston. The MBTA has proposed consolidating
several express bus routes serving Newton into one route, the new 505. The new 505 would not serve
Auburndale, and it would offer a much longer trip, making multiple stops between West Newton and
Newton Corner before running express to Copley Square and then to downtown. The proposal would
also reduce service levels so that the 505 only runs during peak hours. Given the highly irregular
commuter rail service at Newton’s three stations on the Framingham/Worcester line, the proposed
reduction in express bus service would leave many Newton residents without a reliable transit option.
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Reduced service would also be inconsistent with the state’s goals for both housing and climate change.
The state has encouraged cities and towns to address the region’s housing shortage by promoting transit-oriented development, and Newton has responded by facilitating substantial development along the
Washington Street corridor. Reducing transit service in the area would undercut the rationale for those
projects. It would also lead more Newton residents to drive, amplifying congestions problems and
increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. To reach our climate goals, we should
be taking the exact opposite approach: enhancing transit service so that residents elect not to drive.
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I respectfully request that the MBTA restore express bus service in Newton to pre-pandemic service
levels, when multiple express buses traveled directly from Newton to Boston. At the very least, Newton
deserves express bus service that runs throughout the day and on weekends, to make up for its irregular
commuter rail service.
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Newton Corner and Nonantum
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I’d like to make two additional points about express bus service in Newton. First, I ask that all inbound
and outbound buses serving Newton Corner continue to make stops on both the north and south sides of
the traffic circle. Newton Corner is a dangerous environment for pedestrians, and although making two
stops will slightly lengthen trips, it is necessary to ensure that residents can commute safely. Second, the
proposed reduction in service would hit the neighborhood of Nonantum especially hard. Nonantum is
home to many residents who rely on the MBTA, as well as a growing cluster of technology companies,
and the proposed bus map would leave the neighborhood without adequate transit connections. As you
finalize the redesigned bus network map, I ask that you pay particular attention to Nonantum and ensure
that its residents and workers are connected to downtown and to other nearby transit hubs.
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Route 52
Finally, I would like to make an important request about Route 52, which provides service to several
important schools and institutions that serve my constituents, including the Carroll Center for the Blind,
Catholic Memorial, Newton Country Day School, and more. Many students rely on the 52 bus to make it
to school in the morning, and when schedules are not aligned with the start of the school day or buses
routinely run late, those students are forced to miss valuable class time. I ask that when you set the
schedule for the 52 bus, you consult with schools along the route and ensure that students commuting
from any point on the route are able to get to the first class of the day on time, even if the bus is running
10 or 15 minutes late.
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Thank you, again, for providing me with the chance to provide feedback on the proposed bus network
redesign on behalf of my constituents. I hope that you will amend your proposal to ensure that Newton
residents have access to convenient, reliable express bus service that offers a quick connection to
downtown Boston.
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Sincerely,
Cynthia Stone Creem
State Senator
First Middlesex and Norfolk